Very swollen - HELP

[fatlip0214]

Yesterday I had veneers put on my front 4 teeth.  I was given local anesthetic at about 11am and 1pm...the total visit was from 11am - 4:30pm.  I also got gas for the first time for about the first 30 min but I was completely out of it so I had them stop that.  Now, my upper lip and all around my nose are ridiculously swollen.  I felt a little swollen when I got home last night so I put ice on for a little while.  Then when I woke up at 5am it was huge so I iced it again for 1 1/2 hrs.  I saw the dentist this morning and he said "I have never seen anything like that" it must be an allergic reaction.  So I took some benedryl and took a nap...nothing.  It's now been 24 hours and it is still very swollen....what can I do?  I'm desperate for this to go away!

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

That's good.  The ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and would help with the swelling if its was due to trauma and manipulation, etc.

[fatlip0214]

It's still swollen but much better then it was on Friday.  I don't think it was an allergic reaction because benadryl didn't really help at all.  And I'm def not allergic to latex.   I've just been taking ibuprofen and antibiotix (just in case).  I did ice the first 24hrs then warm soaks since then.  I think it was just swollen from all the anesthetic and manipulation.  Anyway...it seems to be getting better.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

If its indeed an allergic reaction (sometimes called angioedema of the lip), then taking benadryl will help with calming down the inflammatory response to whatever irritant caused it.  Are you allergic to latex?  Hows the swelling now?  Has it gone down?  After a few days of benadryl, it should be significantly better.