Redheads Feel the Pain
Redheads are twice as likely to avoid dentist visits because of their extra sensitivity to pain, a study has revealed.
The research taken by the Journal of American Dental Association found that those with red hair were twice as likely to avoid visits to the dentist through fear of treatments, their anxiety caused by previous painful experiences during dental procedures.
Dr Daniel Sessor, author of the study and Outcomes Research Department chair, said: “Redheads are sensitive to pain, they require more generalized anesthesia, localized anesthesia. The conventional doses fail. They have bad experiences at the dentist and because of the bad experiences, they could avoid dental care.”
A mutation of the melanin gene in redheads has caused their population to become more receptive to thermal pain than their brunette and blonde counterparts; this has resulted in a resistance to the pain numbing drug, anaesthetic.
Following the research, an influx of redhead patients came forward to express their anxieties and discomfort at the dentist, many of which stated their resistance to anaesthetic as the main problem.
Redhead patient Amy Anderson described her treatment, she said: “I knew this time something was wrong. I could feel my lips. I was hurting so bad, I was hitting myself in the stomach, I almost wanted to hit her.”
Further studies are being carried out to determine whether extra doses of anaesthetic are needed when treating red haired patients, however, it has been advised that patients that do feel pain when receiving treatment should consult their dentist.
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