View Full Version : Dental sedation - anyone been through it?
I'm due to have very nasty root canal treatment very soon. It's not known if my tooth can be saved but it's recommended that I try.
On the advice on my dentist, I will have it done under intravenous sedation.
Although this is the easy option, has anyone else been through it and can reassure me? The procedure will take about two hours, and I'm pretty terrified about the whole thing.
I'm due to have very nasty root canal treatment very soon. It's not known if my tooth can be saved but it's recommended that I try.
On the advice on my dentist, I will have it done under intravenous sedation.
Although this is the easy option, has anyone else been through it and can reassure me? The procedure will take about two hours, and I'm pretty terrified about the whole thing.
Intravenous sedation is great, I've had it a few times, once for root canal surgery.
Sends you off into a dream state.
You won't know a thing about it:D
I used to have it for fillings, but then he retired & no other dentist will give it for fillings:mad:
Mrs E!
I had no idea you were a fellow dental phobic!
Thanks for your reassurance. You gave me just the answer I wanted, even though I'm still so scared.
The thing I hate the most is the drilling - feels like a power tool in your mouth, making your skull vibrate. Yet you found you can cope with that while sedated?
And I'm scared of sudden pain - the drill unexpectedly touching a nerve. I know that never happens but this tooth is quite horrifically broken and the drilling will be very deep. It may be that she will need to extract it during the procedure instead.
Are you terribly woozy afterwards?
Mrs E!
I had no idea you were a fellow dental phobic!
Thanks for your reassurance. You gave me just the answer I wanted, even though I'm still so scared.
The thing I hate the most is the drilling - feels like a power tool in your mouth, making your skull vibrate. Yet you found you can cope with that while sedated?
And I'm scared of sudden pain - the drill unexpectedly touching a nerve. I know that never happens but this tooth is quite horrifically broken and the drilling will be very deep. It may be that she will need to extract it during the procedure instead.
Are you terribly woozy afterwards?
You don't get put to sleep like a general ana.
BUT it might as well be.
You will be dreaming/asleep/whatever but you won't be in that chair:D
My dentist did tell me he had to put a clampish thing on my mouth because I was babling about rubbish.:o
Said he needed me to shut up to do the work on my mouth:o
I have no memory of this, its like being asleep to me.
tomstickland
23-05-2008, 11:44 PM
I had intravenous sedation for a compact wisdom tooth extraction. Amazing.
I counted to about 7 and then awoke from a very weird dream much later.
Just two replies and I'm already feeling much less worried.
Thank you so much.
But I just can't imagine getting in the car and actually... voluntarily... turning up for the appointment... Guess I will have to bite the bullet though :(
Any others that would like to add their reassurance - it would greatly help!
Yeah, dream like state.
None of the dangers !!! with a general either.
But you need someone to get you home & all you will want to do is have a nap afterwards.
My dentist did tell me he had to put a clampish thing on my mouth because I was babling about rubbish.:o
My husband says, where can he buy one?
Just two replies and I'm already feeling much less worried.
Thank you so much.
But I just can't imagine getting in the car and actually... voluntarily... turning up for the appointment... Guess I will have to bite the bullet though :(
Any others that would like to add their reassurance - it would greatly help!
You WON'T be driving home after, you will need someone to go with you.
I had intravenous sedation for a compact wisdom tooth extraction. Amazing.
I counted to about 7 and then awoke from a very weird dream much later.
Thanks, Tom.
tomstickland
23-05-2008, 11:48 PM
Give it an hour or two and you could.
You WON'T be driving home after, you will need someone to go with you.
Sure, I know. Will book it when husband can devote whole day to me! Fetch, carry, nurse me tenderly, etc. :j
Give it an hour or two and you could.
They always overestimate these things, just to be on the safe side, presumably to avoid lawsuits from the Compensation Clan.
taff007
23-05-2008, 11:52 PM
I had it to take a couple of wisdom teeth out. I remember going into the room, starting to feel 'out of it', and then asking the dentist when he was going to start taking the teeth out. Only to be told that he had finished. Fantastic stuff.
belfastgirl23
23-05-2008, 11:52 PM
Apparently I bit the dentist when I had it done :)
My husband says, where can he buy one?
OK I'm going to tell you what I was saying to the dentist.
I was worried the same as you.......
It must have been playing on my mind.
I was telling him, that I was NOT asleep & knew what he was doing:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Now I wasn't "awake" & I didn't know what he was doing.
He said I was quite funny the way I was telling him. It must have been my fears coming out in my dream like state.
Anyway, he had to clamp me he said - to shut me up.
I made hubby come in because I was so nervous, he said he was embarrasssed at me nagging the dentist even in la la land:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
I honestly never knew anything about it & hubby confirms I wasn't stressed or in pain or upset when I was telling him I was awake, he says it was pretty obvious that even though I was yapping, I wasn't "awake".
As I say, I've had it other times, I don't know if I gave the an ear bashing too. No dentist has ever said & I've never had anyone with me, so I don't know.
You will have a jab & next thing you will be floating to dream land & then they will be waking you up telling you its all over:D
I'll admit the first was hard. The second was much easier, knowing after a few seconds it would all be over. Just get that needle in and settle dow.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz;)
Is it like being drunk? What's it like? I've never taken drugs - maybe it's like that?
How can you cope with a massive power drill in your mouth with no problem? I hate it so so SO much when I'm awake, yet I won't mind it with the sedation?
While you're sedated, if it hurts can you still yell, 'OUCH! BLOODY HELL, NOOOOOO!'??
I was told to leave it for the day and to be honest I think that was right.
Every time I've had it, I slept most of the day afterwards.
Is it like being drunk? What's it like? I've never taken drugs - maybe it's like that?
How can you cope with a massive power drill in your mouth with no problem? I hate it so so SO much when I'm awake, yet I won't mind it with the sedation?
While you're sedated, if it hurts can you still yell, 'OUCH! BLOODY HELL, NOOOOOO!'??
He could get a kango drill in your gob, if you've had a jab full of that in your arm, you won't know nothing about it.
Its not at all like being drunk. When you're drunk you're dizzy & queasy.
I've never taken heroin, but I have watched train spotting:o & when they inject it, they seem to drift off, perhaps its similar:confused:
tomstickland
23-05-2008, 11:58 PM
I'm not a huge fan of dental procedures, but once a local anaesthetic takes hold I start to relax.
floyd
23-05-2008, 11:59 PM
I had it for extraction of 4 wisdom teeth in one procedure and I remember very little about it.
It is like a fabulous floaty feeling where everything is amazing :) I do remember getting shouted at for closing my mouth but other than that everything else that went on is a distant blur. There was a nurse there with the dental surgeon who was saying lots of nice reassuring things as I drifted off.
My husband was waiting for me and had to physically make me go and lie down when we got home as I was adamant that I was going to go shopping. He later told me I looked like something from Night of the Living Dead with crusted blood all round my mouth, half closed eyes and I was making big stompy Frankensteins Monster noises when I walked :rotfl:
I went out like a light within an hour and slept like a stone for 3 hours, they advise you go home and rest as you might feel some discomfort when it wears off but I didn't feel anything at all.
Good luck and I am sure you will be fine :D
Once when I had it, I did feel like I was drifting up to & floating on fluffy clouds.
Thats about the most you will know about whats going on.
Its dreamy sort of stuff. It is an opiate isn't it?
Once when I had it, I did feel like I was drifting up to & floating on fluffy clouds.
Thats about the most you will know about whats going on.
Its dreamy sort of stuff. It is an opiate isn't it?
They told me they use two drugs, one beginning with M, and one something like ketamine? I think I've heard of the latter.
I wish a dentist would come online!
I had it for extraction of 4 wisdom teeth in one procedure and I remember very little about it.
It is like a fabulous floaty feeling where everything is amazing :) I do remember getting shouted at for closing my mouth but other than that everything else that went on is a distant blur. There was a nurse there with the dental surgeon who was saying lots of nice reassuring things as I drifted off.
My husband was waiting for me and had to physically make me go and lie down when we got home as I was adamant that I was going to go shopping. He later told me I looked like something from Night of the Living Dead with crusted blood all round my mouth, half closed eyes and I was making big stompy Frankensteins Monster noises when I walked :rotfl:
I went out like a light within an hour and slept like a stone for 3 hours, they advise you go home and rest as you might feel some discomfort when it wears off but I didn't feel anything at all.
Good luck and I am sure you will be fine :D
Lovely post, thanks so much.
They told me they use two drugs, one beginning with M, and one something like ketamine? I think I've heard of the latter.
I wish a dentist would come online!
Morphine..
tomstickland
24-05-2008, 12:10 AM
Once when I had it, I did feel like I was drifting up to & floating on fluffy clouds.
Thats about the most you will know about whats going on.
Its dreamy sort of stuff. It is an opiate isn't it?
Yeah it was pretty good. I can see the attraction!
Ketamine? That's mainly used as a horse tranquiliser.
I so appreciate your posts. Thanks so much to everyone. I feel a lot better now, thanks to you all.
I'm still sh*t scared, but that's only to be expected from someone who cries when the dentist gives her a scale and polish (and refuses to let her finish the job).
A bit of the temporary dressing broke off this evening, so I know I have to go and get the job done soon.
And costs over £500 for the torture! :(
Morphine..
That scares the bejesus out of me!
Cigarettes, great.
Wine, lovely.
Drugs - eeek!
I hate even taking paracetamol :(
I so appreciate your posts. Thanks so much to everyone. I feel a lot better now, thanks to you all.
I'm still sh*t scared, but that's only to be expected from someone who cries when the dentist gives her a scale and polish (and refuses to let her finish the job).
A bit of the temporary dressing broke off this evening, so I know I have to go and get the job done soon.
And costs over £500 for the torture! :(
I don't know how much that jab is on its own, but if they gave it out willy nilly (like my old dentish did years & years ago - but it was cheap then), anyway whatever it costs its worth it, I would get it for fillings if I could.
I freeze when the drill starts.........
Ketamine? That's mainly used as a horse tranquiliser.
She definitely mentioned that. I remember because I recognised the name.
Ne-e-e-igh!
That scares the bejesus out of me!
Cigarettes, great.
Wine, lovely.
Drugs - eeek!
I hate even taking paracetamol :(
Morphine is the medical version. Its much safer than a gereral or the old gas dentists used to give.
Believe me, after this, you're NEVER going to want to have ANY dental work done without it, as you are nervous (like me).
zzzLazyDaisy
24-05-2008, 12:17 AM
I PROMISE you will not know a thing - and I am terrified of the dentist.
I sleep like the dead afterwards, and definitely am not fit to drive for about 24 hours.
tomstickland
24-05-2008, 12:17 AM
That scares the bejesus out of me!
Cigarettes, great.
Wine, lovely.
Drugs - eeek!
I hate even taking paracetamol :(
Nicotone and alcohol are drugs.
Actually, even recalling this from 16 years ago has given me a warm, elated feeling. Enjoy the trip. No pain.
I don't know how much that jab is on its own, but if they gave it out willy nilly (like my old dentish did years & years ago - but it was cheap then), anyway whatever it costs its worth it, I would get it for fillings if I could.
I freeze when the drill starts.........
I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I feel like a real pathetic imbecile for being so stupid about it. I always feel as if everyone else is so sensible and mature and I'm the only one behaving like a 5-year-old.
I hadn't been to a dentist for more than 10 years until recently. Unbearable agony precipitated my sudden return...
http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/iv_sedation.html
Nicotone and alcohol are drugs.
Of course, but you are in control of those. You don't have someone else deciding the dose and shoving up your vein. :)
Actually, even recalling this from 16 years ago has given me a warm, elated feeling. Enjoy the trip. No pain.
I'm almost looking forward to it after all you lovely people have posted!
http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/iv_sedation.html
Great site, thanks.
krisskross
24-05-2008, 12:51 AM
I think you get given a sedative like valium and an amnesiac so you won't remember it anyway. I'm pretty sure you also get the local anaesthetic into your gums.
cocoluvsmummy
24-05-2008, 9:11 AM
I had sedation for my wisdom teeth, i was offered local aneasthetic and told them no way. I can remember going into the room, having the "butterfly" put in the back of my hand, then nothing until i woke up in the recovery room, don't even remember walking into the recovery room which i must have done. I then talked non stop compeltly hyper for a couple of hours..poor husband in the car wdriving me, then home to bed where i slept for hours. The worst thing was i did feel "spaced" out for 24 hours afterwards, was also advised i wasn't to sign anyhting legal for 48 hours due to the effects.
MRSTITTLEMOUSE
24-05-2008, 9:25 AM
I've had this several times and it's wonderful.I look forward to the lovely sleep afterwards that in my case usually lasts for the rest of the day.I can honestly say you know nothing about it.
im so bad i need vallium to get me through the door of a dentists surgery, but ive had sedation before and cant remember anything after counting to ten, its a rather large dose of diazepam/vallium they give you, luvverly jubberly sleepy time-i honestly thought i was out for the count and didnt even know you could talk whilst sadated!!
photome
24-05-2008, 10:33 AM
I have got to have a filling redone next month, first one for about 20 years, I am scared!!!!! any tips for me as i guess i will only get a bloody great needle in my gums.
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