Discussion of sensitivity to preservatives in anesthetics.

A 23-year-old woman with reported sensitivities to several drugs, including anesthetics, requested dental care. Because of the lack of evidence of allergic reactions to lidocaine, it was used in a dental emergency procedure. The patient had an allergic response. In an evaluation by an allergist, an allergy to methyl paraben was detected. The dental practitioner should be aware of possible allergies to preservative agents when a patient has a history of sensitivity to anesthetics. The practitioner's choice of anesthetics and OTC drugs for this type of patient is crucial.