1 Dental Shot = 84,000 cigarettes!
In 1997, after extensive research, reports state that all local anesthetics approved for use in the United States broke down into anilines. [BPNL, 13 (6), Nov. 1997]. This research has been confirmed by animal and human studies, and even confirmed by the FDA itself, in 1993. In tissue studies, the FDA determined that 67% of the Lidocaine (the most commonly used anesthetic during dental and medical treatments) converts into anilines.
Anilines are commonly known as “coal tar derivatives” and have been found to be cancer-causing, dating to the 19th century. Anilines are one of the main carcinogens found in tobacco. In fact, and injection of only 1cc (one shot) of 2% Lidocaine produces a dose of anilines equivalent to smoking 84,000 cigarettes.
In the United States, until the year 2000, the problem in eliminating the use of these local anesthetics had been the lack of a suitable alternative. Now health-conscious doctors and dentists can use an alternative anesthetic, called Septocaine.
Septocaine was developed almost 40 years ago, in Germany, and is not derived from coal tar. Biochemists have done extensive research and found that the chemical formulation of Septocaine does not resemble aniline, nor could it possibly break down into anilines.
For you health-conscious pateints, that want to avoid carcinogens in anesthetics, look for dentists and doctors that avoid Lidocaine and use Septocaine alternatives.
To Your Optimal Health and Vitality with a Beautiful Smile
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10 comments. Leave new
Thank you for an interesting article. Is Articaine 4% also toxic?
Best,
Allan
Hi Allan,
Thanks for the question. With all the various names for dental anesthetics, it can be very confusing to pick the right one.
Articaine hydrochloride 4% is the generic name and Septocaine is the brand name for the same anesthetic. This is the safest anesthetic to use for dental work in most areas of the mouth.
Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Lawrence
Hi Doctor,
Thanks for the advice.
How about Carbocaine or Marcaine?
Where do those fall in this health vs harm scenario?
Do they convert to Anilines?
Thanks!
Great question Phillip,
Carbocaine and Marcaine are both derived from coal tar as Lidocaine is and therefore convert to anilines in the body.
An interesting note is that both these anesthetics test safe and are tolerated well by some of my sickest patients. My environmentally ill patients, that are allergic to many chemicals in the environment, are ok with these two anesthetics.
I use Carbocaine regularly for numbing lower teeth because Septocaine is more concentrated and associated with permanent numbness on lower teeth. It is one of the weakest concentration of the coal tar anesthetics and is the safest for patient with heart conditions or reactions to epinephrine because it has no epinephrine.
I would love to see a Septocaine anesthetic without epinephrine but it is not on the market yet.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Lawrence
HI dr,
thanks for the info
i’m 19, and had a lumbar puncture to test if i had meningitis last year, i was afraid, and didn’t know anything about this stuff and they were telling me i could die etc, along with my mom saying it, etc.. so i did the obvious thing and opted for it.
Now, looking back, i’m wondering if i just put my self in danger cause of the numbing shot they gave me? please, could you let me know if i screwed up, and what are the possible ramifications of what i did last year.
Also, do these things go away from ur body over time, or..? do they just stay there and cause / or put u at greater risk and do they have any negative impacts on ur health besides cancer? and my wisdom teeth are growing, so i’m going to have to get my wisdom teeth removed, is it hard to find a dentist that uses septo?
thanks for your time
Hi Matt,
Your concerns are mainly medical questions that I as a dentist are not qualified to answer. The affect of lidocaine in your spine, side effects, dangers, etc… are all medical questions to ask an MD. The clearing of the chemical from the body is also done by a MD. Dr. Shima is an MD like this and his name and contact info is on the link page of this website. He may be able to help you with these concerns.
I don’t know which oral surgeons are using Septocaine or not. You would have to ask the oral surgeon you pick these questions. I refer patient to Dr. Phillips. He can be found also on the links page of this website.
I hope these others practitioners can help you.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Lawrence
hi Dr , how about lidocaine 1% is it considers as a carcinogen too and may i have the reference that said aniline is a carcinogen in all his forms ?
Dear Khaled,
Thanks for the blog question.
There is alot of information online that you could access easily. Just search aniline and cancer. The EPA site, PubMed, and NCBI sites are a good start. Most of my references for my new book are from Toxicology textbooks and reference books.
People can always use Septocaine instead and avoid the ingredient completely.
If you want to find the ingredient for most products just go to the manufacture’s website and look for the Safety Data Sheets. It will tell you the ingredients for any product they make.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Lawrence
Is novacain a carcinogen to cause cancer?
Dear Mike,
Thanks for the dental question.
“Novocaine” has not been used in dentistry for 40-50 years. It is a very old product that is not used anymore because of the many side effects in patients. If you are asking about the commonly used dental anesthetics today, then most dentists use “lidocaine”, “xylocaine”, or many others caines. The chemicals in these products are coal tar derivatives and they are converted into anilines by your body which is the carcinogen.
Dentistry uses these products, with carcinogens in them, because the patients want to avoid the pain with the dental surgery but most have not been told the side effects of these drugs and what they are doing to the body.
For the most part I use Septocaine and Carbocaine in my practice which I find safer for my patients.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Lawrence