Dentist can't numb lower teeth when working.
Discussion
Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone else suffered with their lower jaw when drilling takes place?.
I've had several fillings on my upper teeth and both wisdom teeth removed, all without any pain.
My lower teeth however, hurt like hell and also feel stupidly sensitive when they are worked on. I use to deal with this pretty well in my late teens.
I have 3 teeth requiring fillings on my lower jaw and I've been putting it off because the last bottom filling I had a few months back, required 2 visits. The first one fell out and needed more drilling.
After both sessions and several times of having to stop the drilling, I left drenched in sweat and feeling exhausted. Scale of discomfort was 10/10. This was after 5 or 6 injections both times.
I keep looking into other types of anasthetic but I'm unsure of what is available and what other people would recommend, advise or tell me to steer clear.
Obviously, I'd expect some replies to tell me to man up, though that is not an option any more as I just can't stand it anymore.
Anyone have any advice?
Thank you.
I was wondering if anyone else suffered with their lower jaw when drilling takes place?.
I've had several fillings on my upper teeth and both wisdom teeth removed, all without any pain.
My lower teeth however, hurt like hell and also feel stupidly sensitive when they are worked on. I use to deal with this pretty well in my late teens.
I have 3 teeth requiring fillings on my lower jaw and I've been putting it off because the last bottom filling I had a few months back, required 2 visits. The first one fell out and needed more drilling.
After both sessions and several times of having to stop the drilling, I left drenched in sweat and feeling exhausted. Scale of discomfort was 10/10. This was after 5 or 6 injections both times.
I keep looking into other types of anasthetic but I'm unsure of what is available and what other people would recommend, advise or tell me to steer clear.
Obviously, I'd expect some replies to tell me to man up, though that is not an option any more as I just can't stand it anymore.
Anyone have any advice?

Thank you.
Don't worry, you are not going mad. Ask her about the accessory branch of the mylohyoid nerve. Some people have this extra nerve which innervates the lower molars and which is not numbed by the standard mandibular block injection.
Also ask her about intra-ligamental injections around the tooth itself.
"Mandibular Innervation — There are now numerous studies1-12 with sufficient evidence to support the concept of "accessory" innervation to the mandibular teeth, i.e. "there is more than one inferior alveolar nerve." The better documented of these accessory nerves include the mylohyoid nerve5,6,10 as well as branches of the mandibular division (V3) of the trigeminal nerve which arise high in the head and take their own route for entering the mandible.3,4,7 Those accessory nerves which warrant mentioning include:
Figure 2 — Common sites for accessory foramina on the medial aspect of the ramus of the mandible. These could allow for accessory innervation of the mandibular molars.
Branches of the mylohyoid nerve which enter the mandible through "retromental foramina" associated with the lingual cortical bone in the sensation from the premolar, cuspid, and incisor teeth. One study implicates the mylohyoid in innervation to the first molar.12 As the mylohyoid nerve may arise from the inferior alveolar nerve anywhere from 5 to 23 mm above the level of the mandibular foramen,11,13 it most often is not blocked simultaneously with the inferior alveolar nerve block. It is recommended that the mylohyoid nerve block be performed in the vicinity of the retromental foramina, (the incidence of mylohyoid innervations to the mandibular teeth is approximately 60 percent).
Branches of the mandibular division of the inferior alveolar which arise high in the infratemporal fossa and travel to the base of the coronoid process (high and anterior to the mandibular foramen) to enter the mandible5 (Figure 2). These branches carry sensory innervation to the second and third molars.
Branches of the mandibular division or of its inferior alveolar or buccal branch which enter the mandible in the retromolar fossa area (Figure 2) and carry sensory fibers to the first and/or third molars.5"
Also ask her about intra-ligamental injections around the tooth itself.
"Mandibular Innervation — There are now numerous studies1-12 with sufficient evidence to support the concept of "accessory" innervation to the mandibular teeth, i.e. "there is more than one inferior alveolar nerve." The better documented of these accessory nerves include the mylohyoid nerve5,6,10 as well as branches of the mandibular division (V3) of the trigeminal nerve which arise high in the head and take their own route for entering the mandible.3,4,7 Those accessory nerves which warrant mentioning include:
Figure 2 — Common sites for accessory foramina on the medial aspect of the ramus of the mandible. These could allow for accessory innervation of the mandibular molars.
Branches of the mylohyoid nerve which enter the mandible through "retromental foramina" associated with the lingual cortical bone in the sensation from the premolar, cuspid, and incisor teeth. One study implicates the mylohyoid in innervation to the first molar.12 As the mylohyoid nerve may arise from the inferior alveolar nerve anywhere from 5 to 23 mm above the level of the mandibular foramen,11,13 it most often is not blocked simultaneously with the inferior alveolar nerve block. It is recommended that the mylohyoid nerve block be performed in the vicinity of the retromental foramina, (the incidence of mylohyoid innervations to the mandibular teeth is approximately 60 percent).
Branches of the mandibular division of the inferior alveolar which arise high in the infratemporal fossa and travel to the base of the coronoid process (high and anterior to the mandibular foramen) to enter the mandible5 (Figure 2). These branches carry sensory innervation to the second and third molars.
Branches of the mandibular division or of its inferior alveolar or buccal branch which enter the mandible in the retromolar fossa area (Figure 2) and carry sensory fibers to the first and/or third molars.5"
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