Since pioneering individuals began hosting helminths for therapeutic purposes, there have been reports of local anesthetics causing a return of symptoms – possibly due to a temporary adverse effect rather than an actual loss of worms.
In one case, the local anesthetic Marcaine was suspected as the possible culprit, and it has been suggested that, being a particularly strong pain killer with a long period of action, Marcaine might indeed have been responsible. Lidocaine, which is a shorter acting anesthetic, may be safer, but the jury is still out on all of this.
In the case of anesthesia for dental treatment, one solution to this dilemma may lie in a remarkably simple breakthrough in pain management which completely removes the need for any drugs – a cryo-anesthetic mouthpiece called the gumEase G100, which is made from latex-free biocompatible PVC and filled with a saline solution. After being chilled in a temperature-controlled freezer to minus 7 degrees C, the device is placed around the teeth, where it acts to produce a surprisingly powerful pain relief effect.
Up to three devices can be applied in succession, for 4 minutes each, until the required amount of anesthesia is achieved. In tests, the average patient experienced 100% pain relief in 2 to 3 minutes, and this lasted for up to twenty minutes.
The device is suitable for use with most procedures, including fillings, crowns, extractions and root canals, as well as brace application and adjustment.
Patients can even apply this device post-operatively, after storage in a household freezer. Proprietary ingredients in the solution within the mouthpiece prevent it from freezing, and allow it to form comfortably to the patient’s mouth when put in place.
The device is obviously also likely to be of interest to anyone with an allergy or sensitivity to any of the constituents of regular injectable anesthetics, anyone with an aversion to needles, or anyone who simply wishes to avoid the prolonged numbing of the face which typically follows injections.
Anyone who wishes to use this new technology should approach their dentist well in advance of their appointment to check whether this type of anesthesia is routinely offered to patients and, if not, suggest that the dentist obtain a supply and try them. As the device is likely to save dentists both time and money, s/he will probably be grateful for the suggestion!
Supplies of the gumEase can be obtained in the US from http://www.cryodevices.com or http://www.olympicdmd.com ($109.45, including shipping, for a box of 10) and, in the UK, by contacting George Harrell at gharrell@cryodevices.com (£69.77, including shipping, for 10).
PS
Patients who have migraine and tension-type headaches who have tried this device have reported that, in addition to delivering effective dental anesthesia, the device has also provided relief from their headaches. In fact, such has been the success of the device in this respect that a trial is about to begin to test this new application. See: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/05/prweb2480164.htm
Tags: Allergy, Crowns, Cryo-anaesthetic, Dentist, Extractions, Fillings, Gum Ease, Headache, Helminths, Lidocaine, Local Anaesthetic, Marcaine, Migraine, Needles, Pain, Root Canals
[...] GutBuddies – Safe dental anesthesia for helminth hosts, there is a new type of dental anesthesia available for drug sensitive patients that [...]
This is a breakthrough device that is a great post-op option.