Patients sometimes report a feeling of electricity in their jaw or lip when they are being given an injection in their lower jaw. Sometimes they report a burning or shock in their tongue. The injection most dentists use to numb the mandible is called a mandibular block. This injection is a nerve block of the mandibular nerve; a nerve that innervates the mandibular teeth. If it is pierced by the needle it will cause the patient to feel a burning sensation or a feeling of electricity in their jaw, teeth or lower lip. Anterior and adjacent to the mandibular nerve is the lingual nerve. The lingual nerve is responsible for the sensation of the tongue and if it is pierced the patient usually will report a pricking sensation or a burning on the tip of their tongue.
Although it is extremely disconcerting to patients experiencing it, this 'shock' usually causes no lasting harm and when their local anesthetic wears off their lip sensations return to normal.
If the mandibular nerve is damaged a patient can develop a lasting paresthesia of their lip on the side of the injection. Usually this paresthesia will eventually go away, but it may take 6 months to a year for lip sensations to go fully recover. Damage to the mandibular or lingual nerves is infrequent. I have been practicing for over thirty years and I have given many thousands of mandibular injections and I can count the number of paresthesias that have resulted from my injections on one hand. All eventually recovered the feeling in their tongue or lip.
Many patients have described this same sensation. Thank you for the thorough explanation as to why that is! I really enjoyed it
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ReplyDeleteHow can I find a dentist that performs a Mandibular Block? My dentist retired and that's the only way I can get numb. I have been through multiple dentist that say they can do it and they don't & I have wasted my time & theirs. Isthere this a hard procedure to preform because my dentist had no trouble finding this nerve in my mouth?
ReplyDeleteThis happened to me without warning from the dentist. When I made a sound signifying I felt pain I was not told "it's ok this is normal". There was silence. I was never given an idea of what to expect. My reaction after several seconds of the electric shock feeling and burning sensation was to move. He told me he would never see me again as a patient because of that, because I endagered every one in the room. I am not a afraid of pain. I've had dental work done before, teeth pulled, root canals etc. I've had children without anetheisa! How are patients made aware of this feeling so they avoid what happened to me? Or do dentists just wait for the moment it happens??
ReplyDeleteOmg..I thought I was the only one..I am horrified after the experience at my dentist..I have had teeth pulled 5 babies 3 all natural neck and shoulder injections etc..OMG..The shot that this dentist did and wants to do 2 more times to finish my root canal..I can't do it..So she tossed me out saying she's referring me knowing no one will take my insurance..I begged her for any other ahot but that one..She already drilled out the tooth and no other dentist will take me now..I am devastated n scared
DeleteHappened to me today, I opened my eyes as wide as they go and my head went into the head rest. He asked, without me saying anything, did you feel an electrical shock? I said yes and he continued to interact and adjusted slightly. Either your pain tolerance isn't what you thought it was or you can't handle electric shocks (also painful). Doc shock my hand on the way out.
ReplyDeleteIs there a better way to do this it is terrifying everytime I go it gets my heart fluttering and almost break into convulsions. They always hit mine everytime doesnt matter where I go.
ReplyDeleteThis was the scariest thing in the world to me. It sent tears to my eyes and I had a full panic attack in the dentist office. It's been 8 hours and my face is still swollen. I have to go back in two weeks for another procedure and I'm scared.
ReplyDeleteI don’t ever think I want to go to the dentist again… three electrical shocks with the same injection!! It was horrifying!! I know I won’t be going back to that dentist. It’s been almost 2 weeks and my lower jaw still hurts when I open my mouth!!
ReplyDeleteI’ve been getting the shock sensation with my most recent dental visits and it has caused great anxiety to where I don’t want to go back! How. An this be avoided?!
ReplyDeleteI had this electrical shock in my tongue today for the first time and my body began shaking uncontrollably with my head bobbing. I took some deep breaths and shook out my hands but the shaking continued for several seconds and the dental assistant talked to me and said something funny and I laughed and the shaking stopped! I could tell the dentist hit a nerve and wasn't too concerned. I was anxious about the procedure that day so that explains maybe why I reacted with shaking as my anxiety was already raised. 2 hours later the procedure is completed and I'm fine! Dentists should be able to support patients when they become afraid like mine did- it's part of being a dentist!
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