Better dead than red

[sigma7]

A growing body of research shows that people with red hair need larger doses of anesthesia and often are resistant to local pain blockers like Novocaine. As a result, redheads tend to be particularly nervous about dental procedures and are twice as likely to avoid going to the dentist as people with other hair colors, according to new research published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Funny thing is I'm certainly resistant to pain medication, especially Novocaine, though my hair's pretty brown. My facial hair certainly has a reddish tinge, though certainly not to the extent of the classic redhead. daethkow? redmonster? Any other fire-tressed souls care to weigh in?

Comments

[nute.livejournal.com]

This just in: Science shows redheads are WIMPS.

You can't argue with Science.

[daethkow.livejournal.com]

THAT'S IT!! YOU! ME! P&L DISTRICT! SATURDAY! Bring a friend to drive you to the nearest hospital!

/Kidding, of course.
//If ya can smehhhhhhhll....
///We're also prone to hot tempers.

[nute.livejournal.com]

Cory! I'd totally be there were I not going to be in Phoenix.

(Dude, how have I not known you were daethkow all this time? I still have your "Newbie's Guide to KC" in my email.)

[daethkow.livejournal.com]

Vacationing in Phoenix ... in August?

So, how close to reality was my primer?

[ravenskye8.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely a dark brunette - but my hair bleaches to bright red when I spend time in the sun... so, I've always considered myself an "honorary" redhead...

Novocaine does zippo for me... at least in my mouth - they can pump multiple needles into me, and my entire face will get tingly - but I can still feel my face enough to feel pain, and it does absolutely nothing for numbing my mouth...

I definitely need more "knockout meds" than the average person - having pulled the tranquilizer IV out of my arm three times while getting my wisdom teeth removed as a teen...

Also Tylenol doesn't do diddly squat for me other than reduce a fever... Aleve is the only thing that works - and in most cases, it only takes the edge off of pain... to get rid of owwies altogether, I have to take a prescription level dose...

Luckily I've also got an amazingly high pain tolerance...

[redmonster.livejournal.com]

I guess you'd have to ask my dentists about this; the dental anesthetic I've received within memory has been adequate, but I don't know if the providers saw my hair and gave me more than they give other patients. I've been avoiding the dentist lately because I have no insurance, not because I'm afraid of the pain.

[redmonster.livejournal.com]

Specifically, the last time I had Novocaine was to get my wisdom teeth out, and it was awesome. I couldn't feel my face for hours afterward. So maybe I'm not the best example of that.

Also, facial hair color is another matter; lots of men have red beards that don't match their scalp hair.

[jeditigger.livejournal.com]

Never really had an anesthesiologist or dentist mention that to me; my main problem post-surgery is nausea. I've heard this fact for years from my surgeon friend, though, who's always voiced surprise that I'm usually saying my post-op feelings are "discomfort" and not "pain."

But when I had my gallbladder out in April, I got hydrocodone and some anti-nausea stuff. Was taking no chances. :)

[patchsassy.livejournal.com]

Um. Yeah. When they gave me anesthesia for my wisdom teeth, I made it to about 97 before I was out like a light. And while I'm not necessarily resistant to pain medication (novocaine certainly does its job), I have several meds that do not agree with my stomach, like Lortab and Macrobid.

Did the dentists think that maybe people just don't like going to the dentist? I know I need to go but A-it's expensive and B-I only go when it's an emergency. Such as my wisdom teeth giving me daily migraines.

[daethkow.livejournal.com]

My wisdom teeth experience is much the same as patchsassy, and fortunately, I haven't had too many cases where painkillers were needed. Dentist was a few of them, but I didn't find it any hellish than ... expected, I guess.

For what it's worth, they prescribed a mild narcotic after they reset the toe, but I didn't fill it, and I went to work the next day.

[ronwe.livejournal.com]

One of the people in my flist is a redhead. She has a high pain tolerance, but yeah, also needs more anesthetic when anesthesia is actually required.

I have a high pain tolerance as well, but my dentist has gone to the point where I get gassed out just for fillings, because overall it's cheaper than repeated gum jab needles.