What to Know About a Novacaine Allergy

At The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis, patient safety is always our highest priority. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

While Novocaine allergies are extremely rare, understanding the symptoms, causes, and safe alternatives is essential for any patient—especially those with dental anxiety, a history of allergies, or special healthcare needs.

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The Dental Anesthesia Center: Sedation and Sleep Dentistry

Based on 96 reviews

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pnkldy74

Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re grateful for your trust and happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, attentive care in a safe and comfortable environment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.

Craig P.

TWENTY YEARS! That is how long our special needs son has been seeing Dr Hoffman and his dedicated team! Our son suffers from an intellectual disability, is non-verbal, and is unable to cooperate for dental cleaning, x-rays, or other routine dental work. He requires general anesthesia. It is such a blessing to avoid a hospital setting just for dental work.

The team is always well staffed, friendly, personable and very professional. Every single year we have been supported by a deeply caring team who are dedicated to patients with a very wide range of disabilities and needs. They have shared useful dental advice and tools (3 sided toothbrushes, blocks to hold open their mouth for daily at-home care, etc.) which improved our son’s daily dental care. We always receive a call back the day after to check his recovery-even on weekends!

Highly recommended and so appreciative to have this team supporting our ever long road of raising a special needs son.

Response from the owner:Wow — thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review! We are so grateful for your trust and for allowing our team to be part of your family’s journey over the years. It means so much to us to know that our care and support have made a difference. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!

Cheryl D.

We've been coming to Dr.Hoffman for twenty years. There's a reason we keep coming back! He's great. His staff is great. He's double boarded as an MD (Anesthesia) and DDS!!! Our son with special needs needs sedation for even a cleaning. You get what you pay for. He's expensive and... we know he's getting the best care!

Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting our team over the years and for your kind words about Dr. Hoffmann and our staff. We truly value your confidence in the care we provide!

Leslie L.

Omg!! This place is Amazing! The people who work here are so very nice and understanding. I love this team

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to have such wonderful patients.

Cindy R.

Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has
dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.

Response from the owner:We know it isn’t always easy to find a dental office where you feel at ease, so your words mean the world to us. We’re so glad you feel comfortable with our team and truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!

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What Is Novocaine and How Does It Work?

Novocaine, or procaine, is a local anesthetic that temporarily blocks nerve signals in a specific area of the body, usually the mouth, during dental procedures. It works by interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses, preventing the sensation of pain from reaching the brain.

When injected near a nerve, Novocaine inhibits the sodium channels in nerve cells, which are essential for generating electrical signals. Without these signals, pain sensations are effectively shut down in the treated area.

Although the term “Novocaine” is still commonly used by patients, it’s rarely used in modern dentistry. Today, more advanced anesthetics like lidocaine and articaine are preferred because they:

• They are less likely to cause allergic reactions
• Act faster
• Last longer

Can You Be Allergic to Novocaine?

Yes—but it’s rare. True allergies to Novocaine or related local anesthetics affect a tiny percentage of the population.

What causes a reaction?

• Allergy to the anesthetic itself (e.g., procaine or other ester-based drugs)
• Sensitivity to preservatives (such as methylparaben or sulfites used in multi-dose vials)
• Anxiety-related reactions that mimic allergies, like rapid heartbeat, sweating, or dizziness

Symptoms of a Novocaine Allergy

If a person is allergic to Novocaine or similar anesthetics, symptoms may include:

• Skin reactions: hives, itching, or rash
• Respiratory issues: wheezing, difficulty breathing, throat tightness
• Cardiovascular symptoms: low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting
• In rare cases: anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency

Note: Many people who believe they had an “allergic reaction” in the past were experiencing side effects or anxiety-induced symptoms, not a true allergy.

Diagnosing a Novocaine Allergy

If you suspect an allergy, don’t guess—get tested.

Be sure to inform your dentist about:

• Past reactions to dental or medical anesthesia
• Any known allergies to medications or preservatives
• Your complete medical history

What Are the Alternatives to Novocaine?

Fortunately, modern dentistry offers several alternatives for patients with suspected anesthetic allergies:

• Sedation options: At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we offer oral sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia for patients who can’t tolerate local anesthetics

Special Considerations for Anxious or Special Needs Patients

If you’re a patient with dental anxiety, a complex medical history, or a developmental disability, our team is trained to provide compassionate, customized care. Sedation dentistry can be a safe and stress-free option, even if you have concerns about anesthetics.

What to Do Before Your Appointment

• Talk to your dentist about any past allergic reactions or sensitivities.
• Bring your medical records or allergy test results, if available.
• Ask about your options—including sedation techniques suited for your needs.

Why Choose The Dental Anesthesia Center?

We specialize in sedation and sleep dentistry for adults, children, and patients with special needs in the St. Louis area. With decades of experience and hospital-grade anesthesia capabilities, we provide safe, comfortable dental care—even for the most complex cases.