Was I inappropriate to request this from my dentist?

You’re not the OP who asked your dentist for a dance, are you?

I completely understand where you're coming from and don't understand why your husband can't be there. When I was a child I was anaesthetised with gas about 4 times and there was never anyone there apart from the last time another man was present- it still gives me the heeby jeebies thinking about it ans why my mother allowed this- though in those days things were different.

My usual one is.

Another goady post where the op doesn’t come back ?

Are dental nurses never men?

My Dd has overwhelming dental and needle phobia. She is over 18. The only way she can have dental treatment is if I am in the room with her. Part of her dental phobia is around a dentist not stopping if she tells them to stop. The one thing that makes her feel safe is having me there, so I can advocate on her behalf when she’s sedated.

I have never needed to advocate for her. I trust her dentist implicitly. But it’s the only way she is able to have dental treatment. Luckily, she has an incredible dentist who understands about neurodivergence and dental phobia.

Legally the dental nurse has to be present. I think wanting your husband there is over the top, personally.

I don’t think this is anything to do with it, is it?

Is it not just the case that the dentist needs someone to assist with various tasks, whereas a hygienist can carry out their work alone?

I had IV sedation and there were three people in the room so I don’t think you will be alone with the dentist. I actually haven’t been alone with a male dentist for years. I think he was probably surprised because most people wouldn’t want to watch their partner have dental work and because it sounds like you don’t trust him. But I’m sure he will realise it’s more about you than him.

I’ve never been to the dentist without a dental assistant there too - hygienist yes, but not the dentist. Is that not the norm where you are?

There will always be a dental nurse there. You don't need your husband there as well. He will just get in the way.

The chaperone should not be a family member. The chaperone should be a trained person who has got the PVG etc and certificated.

Dental sedation doesn't make you out of it.

It depends ,
with sedation with gas and air only (relative analgesia) it has a variable effect on people , and once you stop inhaling it the effects wear off quite quickly but it does have a slight pain killing effect as well

with oral pre medication ( a tablet taken before treatment) , it takes the edge off anxiety and again can have very variable results , some people feel completely out of it and some people feel relatively normal

with IV sedation the main effects are relaxation which can be variable , but mostly amnesia , people are often surprised at the end of treatment that everything has been done as they don’t remember much. In dentistry some sedationist will use a reversal agent at the end of treatment so people feel quite normal at the end. So in general a sedationist will give as much of the sedation to make the patient comfortable with the proceedure , but how “spacey” a patient feels at the end can be very variable.

Did they not explain when you asked that the nurse would be in the surgery?

GPs always ask now if I want a chaperone for any examination. I imagine dentists are equally strict about this. I haven’t been alone with a dentist for decades, not even for a check up.

I wasn’t allowed to stay with my 8 yr old DD recently during dental sedation. I think from a dentist perspective it’s the same as being in an operating theatre.

therell be other staff there. We had the dentist, a nurse and an anaesthetist

This. Find another one.

There should be a dental nurse there.

Should you feel out of it with sedation? I had sedation for a different procedure last week and didnt feel any different.

If you don't trust the Dentist, then you're at the wrong Dentist

If you are having sedation there will be at least three people in the room with you , so chaperoning will not be a problem.

It is a problem having other people in treatment room for sedation as often the reason for sedation can mean there are surgical proceedures with sterile fields necessary and bringing another person in and gowning up is both a risk and another layer of complexity (instructions to accompanying person about not touching surfaces etc

also many people find dental/surgical proceedures difficult to witness and that can manifest in different ways from fainting to becoming aggressive. We had one case where a child was having a tooth out and had no problems but the two parents who accompanied both fainted in front of the doors , blocking them and preventing more staff coming in to help out.

What would be better is to ask about the chaperoning and safeguarding at the dentists and , perhaps, seeking some CBT or other help for the anxiety over proceedures which must be draining to say the least .

Is this at the hospital for extensive work OP? It is not typical for general anaesthetic to be administered at the dental practice.

Sedation ( a separate thing to a general anaesthetic, doesn't render a person unconscious, you will remain conscious and able to communicate. the intention is to relax the patient so that more significant dental work can be undertaking more easily.

I do understand your concerns and don't think it's unreasonable to query this if you were being fully sedated with only the dentist present in the room, but this is not something that would or should happen as professional standards dictate that a dental nurse will be present to both assist the dentist and for safeguarding purposes. If under GA at the hospital there will be several parties present in the room during the procedure.

I won't pretend to be obtuse to your valid concerns about what it's like to be a woman in a potentially vulnerable medical scenario but I think a bit more information about the actual set up is needed to fully understand this.

I have no idea but I assume it’s because someone being sedated can cause stress for someone who isn’t a medical professional witnessing it, and they don’t want to spend time distracted by having to pacify a non patient when trying to do something important.

I remember having dental work under sedation as a child, I had a cough at the time and my mum ended up completely distressed and crying because she was convinced I was possibly choking. I wasn’t.

I also had sedation as an adult, you’re not actually fully unconscious but you don’t remember it afterwards and the dentist told me I kept thrashing my arms and trying to grab the tools which also probably would be quite alarming to someone who isn’t used to seeing it.

Just as if you were having an operation your husband wouldn’t be allowed in, similar thing here.
a dental nurse will be present with you at all times.
don't you trust this dentist ? If not then they shouldn’t be your dentist.
you husband can wait in the waiting room to bring you home.

nope Google Colin Howell.