Sometimes we really need to think about Dentistry

“Here's a discussion about whether novacaine is used any longer.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070103183804AACiq2a”

“OK, I'll own up. I've been a practicing dentist since graduating in 1983.

Novocaine is used by the public as a generic term. Sorta like Kleenex is used instead of facial tissue.

I have NEVER used Novocaine (procaine) and have probably never even been in the same room as the stuff since starting dental school in 1979.

Xylocaine (lidocaine) almost totally replaced procaine well before I entered dental school. I do not know the exact year the transition occurred.

Novocaine (procaine) was a good product in its day. Its problem was that a decent % of the population was allergic to it.

Xylocaine (lidocaine) was MUCH better. It had virtually NO allergic responses (there is some allergic reaction to a preservative used with it). The dentist also didn't have to be as "accurate" with its placement. The margin of error on injection site was higher.

Lidocaine replaced procaine quickly.

We are seeing another change now. Lidocaine is being replaced by articaine. Articaine is fast acting, profound, and has an even larger area it affects. Articaine has only been available in the US for maybe 10 years and prior that had great success in Europe and Canada. Our Canuck neighbors used to laugh at us US guys for not being able to use it. Thankfully the FDA allowed it in.”

“It was interesting sitting on the sideline waiting for Chinmusic to drop the axe.”

“As I do with you if a bedbug thread pops up......lol”

“Toss 'em before you turn down the covers!”

“SO it's just lidocaine, huh? That explains a lot. Lidocaine wears off very,very quickly for me.”

“Lidocaine is good stuff. IMPO articaine (Septocaine) is better.

The shift away from lidocaine to articaine is stunning. I don't have the numbers, but if they fall in my lap, I'll post em.”

“Let's hear it for Nitrous:)”

“I still don't believe that statement was true.”

“HighPlainsDrifty, are you another nitrous fan?”

“No. It might be true in the dentistry field, but not in and of itself.”

“The dentist called, to find out how I was doing. They used loads of septocaine yesterday. I must be getting old. This is the first time a doctor has been younger than I am. :L”

“When he said, "What do I know?" I had to wonder if Chin wasn't a DMD.

I remember having nitrous once as a kid. The whole dental visit turned into animation. It was weird.”

“I'm with ST. Nitrous doesn't seem to work on me either.”

“Speaking of dentistry, I was just in the barn, tossing firewood into the trailer with the intent of hauling a load into the house. A jagged nub of a branch on a piece of wood became stuck on the bottom of my sweatshirt as I threw it to the trailer and thus redirected it smashed full force into my face. I'm okay right now, but I need to head into town and have my two wobbly incisors checked out and get a couple of stitches in that nasty avulsion on my upper lip. A little earlier I hung a large dead oak into another. I'm done working for the day.”

“Yeah, I'd stay away from the chainsaw today if I were you, Nimble. Go get yourself repaired before it gets worse.”

“Nitrous ALWAYS works for me. I remember when I got my widowm teeth out, before they put me under and were numbing me up, I was laughing hysterically at everyone. Last thing I remember was the anesthesiologist saying, "We'd better turn that down a notch..."

Jeeze Nimble. Ouch.”

“Nitrous: Bring a Pink Floyd CD with you. May I suggest Dark Side of the Moon?”

“http://austriantimes.at/news/Around_the_World/2011-01-23/29957/Dressed_to_Drill

.....Dr Klarkowski, 41, said: "The most important thing for us is to take away the patients' fear. The sight of cleavages gets patients narcotised and distracted from the pain rather quickly.".....”

“Love it. Next up - string bikini dentistry.”

“Now it's time to come up with something for the female patients”

“My accountant would question the Vicoria Secret expenses.”

“yea but think about the increase of males at your office lobby! $$$”