Management of Acute Dental Problems

Brief description of condition

Anaesthesia, paraesthesia or dysaesthesia can each have a variety of potential causes, including trauma, nerve disease, post-surgery, infection, a cyst or a tumour.

Key signs and symptoms

• Numbness (for anaesthesia)
• Tingling (for paraesthesia)
• Burning sensation (for dysaesthesia)

Initial management

Determine if there are signs of stroke: e.g. facial weakness or distortion, arm weakness, speech problems; rapid onset of these symptoms (F.A.S.T).

If there are signs of stroke

Send the patient immediately to emergency medical care via NHS 24 or if the patient is not safe to move call 999.

If there are no signs of stroke

• If the patient has recently had an injection, extraction, surgery, botox treatment or treatment for trauma, advise the patient to seek non-urgent care by contacting the treatment provider within 7 days, or earlier if the symptoms worsen.
• If there has been no recent treatment or there is no other obvious cause, advise the patient to see seek urgent medical care.
• If there are signs of spreading infection, prescribe antibiotics.

Subsequent Care

Treat the underlying cause, if known.

Monitor symptoms at follow-up appointments and refer to a specialist if required.