02/23/2026
🦷 HOW TO HACK A DENTAL NERVE BLOCK (WHEN YOU HAVE EDS) 🛠️
“You shouldn’t be feeling this.”
But you do.
The drill hits. You flinch.
And suddenly you’re “dramatic.”
Let’s be clear: if you have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, anesthesia failure is documented in the literature — not just in your head.
1️⃣ The Lidocaine Problem Is Real
A large peer-reviewed study found that 88% of people with EDS reported inadequate pain prevention from dental local anesthetics — compared to only 33% of people without EDS.
Even more telling?
Reported effectiveness in EDS patients:
Articaine: ~30%
Bupivacaine: ~25%
Mepivacaine: ~22%
Lidocaine: ~8%
Procaine: ~7%
Translation: Lidocaine fails a LOT in EDS.
We don’t fully understand the biological mechanism yet. There is no proven “porous sponge tissue” explanation — the resistance is documented, but the physiology is still being studied.
But the pattern is real.
2️⃣ Articaine > Lidocaine (According to Meta-Analyses)
In general dental research (not EDS-specific), randomized controlled trials show that articaine is about 2× more likely to achieve successful anesthesia than lidocaine.
Is it a magic fix for EDS? No.
Does evidence support trying it if lidocaine failed you before? Yes.
If you’ve had repeated block failures, asking about articaine or bupivacaine is evidence-based — not difficult.
3️⃣ The Epinephrine (Adrenaline) Question
Dentists add epinephrine to: • Prolong numbness
• Reduce bleeding
• Keep anesthetic localized
There are no large dental studies proving epinephrine triggers POTS episodes.
However — epinephrine does stimulate the cardiovascular system.
If you have POTS or dysautonomia and know you’re sensitive to sympathetic surges, it is reasonable to discuss epinephrine-free options with your dentist.
That’s a conversation — not a conspiracy.
4️⃣ You Are Not a “Hard Patient”
Research supports that people with EDS experience higher rates of local anesthetic failure.
Not anxiety.
Not exaggeration.
Not low pain tolerance.
A documented clinical pattern.
🛠️ What To Do Before Your Next Filling
✔ Tell your dentist you’ve had local anesthetic failure before
✔ Ask about articaine, bupivacaine, or mepivacaine if lidocaine didn’t work
✔ Discuss epinephrine use if you have autonomic issues
✔ Do not let them drill until you are actually numb
You are not being dramatic.
You are advocating with data.
👇 Have you ever had a dentist actually adjust their protocol for EDS?
Save this for your next appointment.
Sources (peer-reviewed):
Schubart et al., 2019 – Resistance to local anesthesia in EDS dental patients (J Dent Anesth Pain Med)
Martin et al., 2021 – Articaine vs lidocaine systematic review (BDJ Open)