Sedation for dental treatment - what to expect?

[Dancergirl]

After a long struggle with severe dental phobia, 17 year old dd has been seen by the special care/sedation team at Guy's Hospital. We now need to make an appointment for her to have her teeth checked and cleaned under sedation.

They have explained the process to her but if anyone has had it, can they tell me how they found it? Dd is worried about how she will feel afterwards and also the removal of the needle from her hand after she has come round.

I felt a bit lost and confused afterwards and needed a friend to take me home (I probably could have got home by myself on public transport but it wouldn't have been safe). The next morning I felt weak and tired, but that was probably the result of the major dental operation as much as (if not more than) the sedation.

nanny are you in London? I doubt they’ll do it for just a scale and polish, but if you need any actual treatment doing they’ll do the scale at the same time for you. I went to a normal dentist when I broke a tooth who realised I couldn’t even handle the exam. They referred me to have it done with gas and air at a community dental clinic but I couldn’t cope with that either so they referred me to the hospital. Best thing ever. I live hours from London now so can’t see any chance they’d refer me back but I would definitely go if they’d let me!

She can't be alone, she will need you or someone with her the rest of the day. I think mine also instructed no public transport but might be different depending where you live, for example London where that the most convenient mode of transportation.

As for how I was, I don't remember much, I always know at the time while I am aware time goes by so fast and I'm chilled out, then I very quickly forget everything. I've had it several times. How I have been has varied each time, often fairy sleepy afterwards, sometimes gone to bed straight after but also I have gone shopping and out for lunch before now so it varies, possibly on what I have eaten before (I often don't eat at all and think the effects are then greater and longer lasting).

I do think sedation is great.

I had sedation when I had my wisdom teeth out. It was lovely! Felt like I downed a few bottles of wine and was gloriously smashed!

It was all a bit hazy afterwards but my husband said I was hilarious on the drive home 😬

How do you go about this? I have a massive dental phobia and know I need to go, but am avoiding it. Do I go via my dentist for a referral? I even hate the normal checkup - can I get sedated for that?

She will need someone to go with her in case she is a bit woozy afterwards.
There might be some pain afterwards but they will probably prescribe painkillers.

dancer - yes ask your dentist to refer you.

Thank you so much for all these responses - so helpful.

Dd hasn't had a dental check up or even sat in the chair for many, many years. We have tried all sorts of avenues with limited success. When she first went to Guy's a month or so ago, it was the first place she felt vaguely comfortable - nothing was forced, she didn't have to sit in the chair....even the x-ray bloke understood she didn't want to have the x-rays with the thing in her mouth.

The fact that she is even entertaining the idea is huge progress for her. The problem now is timing - dd is away at boarding school during term time and we didn't manage to get an appointment for this week. Might have to leave it until half term, I just hope she doesn't lose her nerve in the meantime.

It's today! (have changed my username since posting). I'm so nervous in case dd backs out.

Just a question about the canula/needle - it goes in the back of the hand right? Wondering whether to use some Emla cream beforehand....

DD1 had general sedation for a medical procedure recently (she's a teen.) She was very sick afterwards (not a sicky child generally - unlike me and her sister who get sick crossing a puddle) and then slept for hours. Once it was all out her system she was fine - took about 5 hours. She couldn't have got home by herself - we had to take a taxi as the bus was out of the question.

Yes, they will try there first. I’m not a fan of needles, and it is a bit ouchy, so definitely worth asking. Although I don’t know whether they will have any??
It does need some time to work though, so you’d need to get there say half an hour or so before your actual appointment time so they can put it on while your in the waiting room?
Good luck!

*you’re!

Yes, my cannula went in the back of my left hand.

No sickness for me at all... and no memory of the procedure (pleasant side effect of the drug they use)

But I was very unsteady until the end of the day after... went shopping 24 hrs after procedure and had to sit down in the middle of the shop, so be aware of that

Good luck, hope your DD gets on ok.

My 9 yo DD had sedation.
It was like a mask she had over her nose and was told to take deep breaths, they spent a good 15mins talking to her to try and chill her out. They guarded her eyes away so she couldn't feel the injection in her gums.
As soon as the noise of the tools came on she freaked, wouldn't open her mouth and we ended up having to book back in..
2nd time she took headphones to play her music, had sedation, heard the tools and same thing again, but she bit the dentists finger this time.
We had to book back in again.. by this time she couldn't really eat on the tooth (needed filling) and she was in Pain.
And she stuck it out Wahay. She hates the dentist! Dentists were fabulous with her though, very professional and patient even though she wasn't the best customer!
I hope your daughter managed it well

We have Emla at home!

Then you’re good to go!

Worrying about potential sickness now, that would really put her off having it again.

I’ve had sedation a number of times and never felt even slightly nauseous, although I appreciate everyone reacts differently. Has she had any kind of anaesthesia before and been sick?

EMLA cream the entire way. I don't care about dentists, but injections is another matter altogether.

I found it very useful to be in complete control and also, to make sure things go exactly as 'I expect them to', so there are no changes at all. I found it useful to be the one to draw the 'X' on my hand where they were going to put the canula in.

I also asked if I could be the one to hold the oxygen mask onto my face, so it felt like a positive choice I was making, as opposed to someone forcing it onto me (I've had so much counselling around this phobia!)

Both actions helped and the hospital staff were utterly wonderful, lovely and supportive - despite me hysterically crying, they let me do what I could and it really did make a difference.

I didn't feel woozy or anything like that when I woke up, I actually felt very hyper and just a massive sense of relief as soon as I woke up 'That's it! It's done, I did it!' and then chatted very happily to everyone in the hospital as the worst was behind me. I've had 2 Generals and 1 sedation and not felt sick after any of them.

When I came round, they had kindly bandaged up my hand with the canula so I didn't freak out and see it and a lovely lady came into my room, popped a pillow in front of me and between my eyes and my hand and just took the canula out. I was really freaking out but felt absolutely nothing - I think the fact I was so scared about it meant she was extra gentle.

She did it!

I am so unbelievably proud, this probably sounds really stupid but it's such a bad phobia and has been going on so long.

I really thought she was going to back out. I felt quite anxious but really tried to keep it to myself. We were shown in, met the lovely dentist who dd had met last time, she offered dd either a nasal spray or drink to start the sedation process. Dd chose the drink which she had then we sat around chatting until it kicked in. When dd started getting drowsy, she sat in the dentist's chair, they checked her blood pressure and then put the needle in her hand. I felt so emotional seeing her in the dentist's chair which she has not sat in for a decade.

The dentist was amazing, had a lovely manner, even though dd was out of it, she spoke to her at each stage, explained what she was doing etc. She examined dd's teeth and gave them a thorough clean. Amazingly, even though dd hasn't had a dental check up in 10 years, her teeth were healthy with no decay

The dentist then asked me and dh (who came too) to wait in the recovery area and then they brought dd round who was walking very wobblily! We sat there for half an hour or so, dd got hiccups and had double vision which apparently is common. Then we left, got a taxi (dd fell asleep again!) and we got home.

She said it was really weird, she thinks she remembers some of it but it feels like a dream. She said immediately afterwards she could do it again

fluffy dd also had her hand taped up during recovery so she couldn't see it.

I am so grateful to the wonderful team at Guy's; after everything we have tried, all the many many professionals we have seen over the years and now dd has made this huge step.

The next stage will be tricker - orthodontics which dd is very keen to have. She obviously can't be sedated for that what with 6 weekly appointments but we will take it slowly and see what happens. The dentist is now going to refer dd to the CBT department at Guy's; dd has previously refused any talking therapies but she might give it a go now.

Oh I’m so glad, sounds like they did a great job looking after her. I had totally forgotten about the hiccups, I get those too!
Fingers crossed the CBT goes well 🤞

I had sedation recently and was quite coherent after but very tired for the rest of the day. Tell her not to worry about the cannula coming out. The worst bit was literally when they ripped off the plaster. Ouch!

Oops! Have just seen it was today. Glad to hear it all went well :)