Why are my lips still numb after dentist appt?

Posted by Dr. Ralph Stanley on Jul 24 2014, 11:23 PM

I had a dentist appointment this morning and my lips are still numb. I am starting to get nervous. A friend and I just had lunch together and my drink kept rolling down my lips like I was drooling. Did my dentist do something wrong? Why are my lips still numb? – Rhys W.

Rhys – When you receive local anesthetic at a dental appointment, your tooth is numb for about an hour after the injection. Your lips and tongue will be numb for three to five hours.

As the evening progresses, the circulation of your bloodstream will carry the anesthesia away from the injection site, and you should progressively have more feeling in your lips and tongue. In rare instances when the numbness lingers on, your dentist can reverse the effects of the anesthetic.

This post is sponsored by San Jose dentist Dr. Ralph Stanley of Hillsdale Dental Care.

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