Dental sedation

I had IV Valium, and would have said I remembered everything, and the work took about ten minutes. I do remember some things the dentist said, but it was only next day that the Bodach told me I had been in for about an hour! I have no recollection of the journey home, and, like an earlier poster, had a great sleep that night!
Good luck, though I’m sure you will be fine.

Do, please, ring the dentist and tell the receptionist that you would appreciate it greatly if she would tell the dentist that you are really scared stiff of dental appointments.

I don't know the statistics, but I do know that most of us dislike it to a certain extent, and that many people are as scared as you are.

And you have my generous permission to tell your DH that he is unfeeling and unhelpful to say the very least-

Most dentists these days do prefer to know when the patient coming in the door is scared.

Another lifelong dental phobic here, suffering with a cocktail of fears. The absolute pinnacle of my fears was reached last year when all but 3 of my teeth had to be extracted. Unfortunately no NHS dentists in our area so had to go private (the financial pain matching my dental pain). Had IV sedation (nearly 2 hours). I wasn't out for the count but it was more of an out of body experience, helping give me a feeling of detachment from what was going on. As I hadn't slept at all with anxiety the night before the surgery, once I got home the combination of fatigue and residual sedation meant I slept late into following day. So, if you can afford sedation, I would certainly go for it, it does help a lot. Be aware however you will need to undertake to have someone with you for the following 24 hours.
Good luck, and sending you hugs, lots of us on here can sympathise with you.

Think of your upcoming holiday and all that means. Don't think of the dental procedure as you will know nothing of it anyway. I was a Registered Dental Surgery Assistant also Orthodontics then RGN. You have nothing to worry about, think of the relief you'll have and that holiday.

Nothing to worry about. The injection puts you out in seconds and the next thing is you wake up and it's all done. Like you I was terrified as the dentist had tried doing the extraction with just a local anaesthetic but it was too painful to carry on. You're lucky to be able to have it done under the NHS. I had to pay privately for mine. Good luck.

I do understand how you feel but honestly its the thinking about it that is the worst!

I had big extraction in Jan and wasn't looking forward to it at all and had sweaty hands going into the dental chair. Tooth had been filled and then filled again and had to come out. I opened my mouth and before you could say Jack Robinson dentist said sorted! I thought he just meant the injection and I asked how much longer I would have to wait and he smiled and said tooth out! Oh the relief, I honestly didn't feel a thing not even some pulling and had no bleeding afterwards.

You will be glad to get it out if giving you pain and toothache.

Good luck, you will be fine.

You had a very bad experience when you were a child which unfortunately has remained with you and is making you feel dreadful now. Thankfully things are much better now and the experience will be very different.
Would you feel comfortable posting the date of your appointment so that the healers amongst us can send healing vibes on the day? That way you will not feel so alone but will feel supported by us all 🤗 xxx

I have no fear of dentists but last year had to have a cracked tooth extracted. It was the last tooth at the back, but as I’ve never had a tooth out before and very little work done I was a little trepidations, but after the injections I didn’t feel a thing, it came out easily and hardly bled. I’m sure you’ll be fine.

You will be fine it’s so quick 10/15 mins .
Absolutely painless. Just make sure you rest well afterwards and next day as if you start leaping around you get infections.
Have a good boiled cooled salt rinse after each meal .
It really is absolutely painless awake or asleep.

As someone who has been scared of the dentist since I was a child I can understand your concern.
Please know that after the initial prick for the injection for the sedation you will feel absolutely nothing. They can even give you a liquid sedation that I have had, tastes horrid but works as well as intravenous.
Good luck with your treatment.

Wow. £600. I’ve got a private dental plan which costs me £40 a month and often resent paying so much.
But….I had a difficult extraction recently. It took my lovely dentist about 45 minutes to attempt to get all three roots out.
(I didn’t realise that back teeth have three roots).
To be honest, it was a bit of an ordeal (just local anaesthetic) but at least it’s made me appreciate the value of avoiding one-off big payments.
Best of luck with your extraction.
Please let us know how it goes.

SunnySusie

You have my sympathy. I have a dental appointment in a week for scaling and polishing and I am scared! Its something in my mind from childhood. Once I was so terrified as a child I couldnt open my mouth and the dentist slapped me. Imagine if that happened now! I left the surgery in tears and my Mum just told me I was a naughty girl for not doing as the dentist told me. I have had iv sedation and its a breeze. No memories at all, no pain. Just drift off in the chair and next thing you are on the sofa at home. Apparently I babble nonsense to whoever is taking me home!

Have you considered Airflow as an alternative for scale and polish? I know it's a bit more expensive but it's very gentle but also very effective.

Try not to worry. My partner has all his dental procedures, including fillings, done under sedation due to his strong gagging reflex. He never feels a thing and everything has gone very well.

You have my sympathy. I have a dental appointment in a week for scaling and polishing and I am scared! Its something in my mind from childhood. Once I was so terrified as a child I couldnt open my mouth and the dentist slapped me. Imagine if that happened now! I left the surgery in tears and my Mum just told me I was a naughty girl for not doing as the dentist told me. I have had iv sedation and its a breeze. No memories at all, no pain. Just drift off in the chair and next thing you are on the sofa at home. Apparently I babble nonsense to whoever is taking me home!

My Mum would panic each time she had a dental appt looming. She would have sedation come out saying what was she worrying about. Did it every time as just was scared of dentist from childhood! So you are not the only one, hope it goes well for you!

My dentist refers me to a clinic that deals with nervous patients for extraction. I've had 2 extractions, no sedation, was fine.
Perhaps your dentist could do this.

Local anaesthesia takes care of the physical pain; sedation the anxiety.

I've never had sedation (other than for impacted wisdom teeth done under general in hospital - donkeys years ago. But I do have a phobia but since finding an exceptionally quiet, kind and gentle private dentist my fears have left me.

Good luck. After it's over you will (hopefully) wonder why you worried so much.

I absolutely dreaded having a distorted wisdom tooth out. No sedation on offer but I steeled myself to go through with it. I really thought the dentist was just setting things up for the extraction but suddenly said, 'That's it. All done'. I couldn't believe it. It was so quick and absolutely painless (I'd had a numbing injection). I was so pleased and very relieved but also sorry that I'd been worrying about it for so long.

I've had sedation for various things. I had extensive dentistry and I'm pretty sure it was a tablet on a couple of occasions, some kind of benzodiazepine rather than iv. I can't remember any of it but I said funny things. Had IV sedation in hospital, midazolam and procedure was totally painless, even watched on a screen. You'll be fine. Make sure you have an escort & transport.

I had dental sedation last year for the removal of two teeth. The dentist was absolutely fabulous and one I recommend, should you live in the Bath area?

I just need to go in a week or so beforehand for pre-op information.

In the end, it was actually quite a pleasant experience!

I had only ever had teeth removed while being asleep. Last year I needed a wisdom tooth removed. I was scared believe you me! I sat on the wall outside the dentist waiting for them to open. I had tears in my eyes. I pulled myself together and went ahead with it just being numbed. I did not feel a thing! I think my dentist suffered far more than me as he knew how scare I was. I will never be frightened again. I think it is the 'unknown' factor.

Just to put things into context hip replacement operations are usually done with epidural injection and unless you request sedation you'd be awake for that. Sedation at the dentist will put you to sleep and any numbing injections would not be felt.
You will be fine. Just think no more pain and you can enjoy your holiday.

I too have had sedation. Totally painless and have never regretted it. I had an unpleasant illness which affected my teeth very badly hence the removal of those I had left. My dentures are just like my original teeth and I can eat properly. I've had them for ages now and have never regretted the cost.

I’ve had IV sedation long ago for tooth extraction, a veneer, and a root canal filling. It was brilliant, they could have cut a limb off and I’d have been happily drifting in space - and although able to talk (apparently!), and walk out to be driven home, there was absolutely no memory of anything having been done.

That was on the NHS and sadly now it’s a postcode lottery, it’s only available privately here so I’m never going to be able to afford it again.

Good luck!