 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Hi Pickle.
Some comments about your experience.
He probably used an local anesthetic without a vasoconstrictor and that is why it worked so fast. Some local anesthetics have a vasoconstrictor in them that make them last longer. The downside is that they also take longer to take effect. Your regular dentist probably uses one of that kind.
The reason the injections in the roof of the mouth are the most painful is because the skin is thin and attached to the bone with no room for the liquid to go anywhere. It's about the only place in the mouth where I can't give a painless injection. Believe me, I don't enjoy doing it, but have no choice.
Unfortunately you will be sore for a few days and eating will be uncomfortable. Sounds like you have a good handle on what you have to do.
It may take a day or two for the tissues to get to the lab for reading and then a couple of days for the pathologist to look at them. All in all, I would suspect that most offices get a fax within in 5-6 days. My biopsy was put in the mail on a Friday and even with the weekend, I got the fax on Tuesday at dinner time. You should call the office and tell them that you want a phone call as soon as they get the results, even if it's bad news. Think about that for a while as many people really don't want bad news over the phone.
Good luck and you will be in my prayers.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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