I’ve had patients calling the office and asking us ‘Do dental local anaesthetics contain graphene oxide’ and being very concerned, upset and panicking that this may be the case.
Well, this took us at Evolve Dental, Holistic Dentist Brisbane a little by surprise as any changes in our dental anaesthetics mean everything must go through TGA approval first and we had heard no such news or seen any research on this.
So I have taken it upon myself to do some digging and ask my holistic colleagues and research bodies what they know so we can ensure we give you the best care and continue to provide holistic dentistry in the safest way possible for you.
I have had a handful of patients panicking and calling, concerned that the injections we use to numb your teeth for routine dental procedures contain graphene oxide…
Well, let me set the record straight and answer your questions.
The short answer is that the standard dental injections of local anaesthetics DO NOT contain graphene oxide, and nothing we are using at Evolve Dental Healing contains it and nor would we use it.
However, there are a few new super long-acting dental local anaesthetics that last for 2-3 days (not hours) that have been released that do use graphene oxide to enhance how long the injections last.
These are NOT something we use or will be using.
Let me explain, I try to be proactive when I hear or read something that might be considered disturbing by my patients. This allows me to get to the truth and address concerns before it even becomes an issue for us.
So lately, there have been a couple of products that have been released that are long-acting local anesthetics. They are meant to be used post-extraction or post-surgery because their effects last sometimes as long as a few days.
Note as I do not perform extraction or surgery in my clinic, we have no need to use these injections and nor would we if we did these procedures, as there are better ways to manage post-op pain.
For those who dread a recovery period full of pain, it might sound like a wonderful solution. The worst pain post-operatively from pretty much any surgery is felt the first 3 days post-op.
The use of these long-acting anesthetics is meant to reduce the post-operative use of narcotics and other pain medications as well.
So a local anesthetic that can promise to keep a person numb for 2-3 days sounds like a miracle.
However…. My switched-on and very holistic approach to life section of my patient base is absolutely right in being concerned about the ingredients in the anesthetic because, of course, they are concerned about graphene oxide being an ingredient in other injections as well.
I will NOT be discussing the other injections because they are not dental-related and not something I can discuss without repercussions.
But briefly – numerous results have shown that graphene materials cause dose-dependent toxicity in animals and cells, such as liver and kidney injury, lung granuloma formation, decreased cell viability and cell apoptosis (cell death).
What that means is that it will cause cell damage and injury, and even cell death.
Therefore, I think it’s important for our patients to know that our office will be staying away from these long-acting anesthetics that contain graphene oxide or injectable hydrogels as they do not fit our holistic approach, and we have no need for them in a general dental setting anyway.
The anesthetics we use generally wear off in about 2-4 hours, depending on a person’s metabolism.
Occasionally, we encounter people who wear anesthetic off like it’s water, and we end up having to use more for them.
If you are one of those kinds of people, make sure you eat a meal heavy on protein and fat and lower on carbs before your dental appointments, as it helps to make the anesthetic last a little longer so we can give less.
But generally, our local anesthetics are very short-term.
Instead, we focus on using things in our office that will minimise post-operative pain without having to introduce a more toxic substance to the body.
And in fact, a combination of panadol and ibuprofen works incredibly well in terms of pain reduction post-operatively.
I hope this helps you all to feel safer in our dental office if you are a patient.
And if you aren’t a patient and have a wonderful holistic dentist, I’m certain that asking them about this issue will also bring you reassurance as to the materials they use to numb your mouth.
And once again to be very clear we DO NOT use bupivacaine or any of these super long-duration local anaesthetic injections.
At Evolve Dental Kenmore, as we are a holistic dental practice we do our utmost to ensure we use the safest and most appropriate materials for you and your mouth.
At Evolve holistic dentist Brisbane, we offer a broad range of holistic dental health promoting services and treatments to enhance your smile, and to restore comfort and function to your mouth in addition to supporting your total health.
Holistic dentistry focuses on treating tooth decay and gum disease, without using harsh chemicals or materials that can adversely impact on you health. Holistic dentistry applies a whole body approach to dental disease that addresses the fundamentals of good health so as to understand why you are suffering dental problems and to support you to be better equipped to prevent them.
Give us a call today and book your comprehensive oral health examination 07 3720 1811.
UPDATE: 27/09/2024: There have been concerns over the last year about potential contaminants in local anaesthetics used in dentistry. The manufacturers of these anesthetics have reassured dentists that there were no added ingredients. Recently, however, the University of Colorado confirmed the presence of graphene oxide particles in a very common anesthetic. Further testing and research will be needed to understand the implications of these findings and what that means for you as the patient and us as your holisitic dentist. Currently the tests are inconclusive with some batches testing free of graphene and others being shown to contain it.
I will endeavour to keep you updated and am also looking for ways to mitigate the potential of this being in the products that we use.
For more information and updates please follow the LINK here
Rachel is the founder and principal dentist at Evolve Dental Healing with over 30 years experience, practising holistically since 2001. Not your typical dentist, Rachel is a passionate opinion leader, challenging convention to empower people to make better dental and health choices, helping thousands to have healthy natural smiles. A respected writer and presenter on holistic dentistry, health and wellness it is Rachel’s mission to revolutionise the way people look at their dental health.
