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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Dental treatment under sedation

58 replies

ovaryhill · 12/10/2015 15:25

I'm having this done soon and I'm terrified, aibu? Has anyone else had this done, was it ok?
Please share some experiences! I'm worrying myself sick
I went to my normal dentist about a month ago and made a complete fool of myself with my weeping and wailing, went back to work looking like Alice Cooper and spent the rest of the day traumatised, hence the referral for sedation

OP posts:

HellKitty · 12/10/2015 17:12

It's fabulous!
Just make sure you have a wee first. I had the sedation then wanted a wee. I'm sure everyone in the building saw my arse.

ghostyslovesheep · 12/10/2015 17:17

Midazolam or Hypnovel - amazing stuff - great stuff

Original poster

ovaryhill · 12/10/2015 17:18

So does that mean you could be really distraught and in pain during treatment but just won't remember it??!!! I can feel anxiety level rising again

OP posts:

Mrsmorton · 12/10/2015 17:22

No, it means if you find treatment distressing (which I assume you do) you won't remember it so when you next need something doing, you won't say "last time.. Etc". I sense that you're building this up massively in your head. As all pps have said, there's no need to because you have absolutely no memory of what's been done to you whether it was easy or difficult. You will be numbed up in the same way non sedated patients are numbed.

Mrsmorton · 12/10/2015 17:26

We're not in the business of torture, it's slightly offensive that you think a dentist would like to see you in pain during a procedure. It would be wholly unethical to proceed if you weren't correctly numbed.

The point of sedation is to make a procedure that you find unpleasant, more pleasant. I don't find dental treatment unpleasant, I do find the sight of my big toe joint a little stomach turning, hence sedation for that.

Fluffyears · 12/10/2015 17:27

It's fab I had my two bottom wisdom teeth out with it. You get numbed as well. The nice person come and puts in the sedation and you just relax like you've had s few drinks. I was lying there and would have let them do anything as I couldn't give a shit what was happening. At one point the tool the dental surgeon was using slipped and I just didn't care. Afterwards dp said he came into the room and I was just staring into space in my own Wee world. I went home and slept for 9 hours. Seriously you will remember the procedure but won't care about what's happening.

Fluffyears · 12/10/2015 17:29

Although my recollection is hazy 6 months later it's like remembering a dream and in my mind the procedure lasted 10 minutes but it was over half an hour. They will check you are numb as usual before proceeding.

Ragwort · 12/10/2015 17:40

I am sure you will be fine - I was referred for treatment under sedation but when I got to know the dentist, who was lovely, I trusted him so much that in the end I didn't have the sedation but had the wisdom teeth extracted with just the normal numbing injection and there was no real pain and only very, very slight discomfort afterwards (I didn't even need a painkiller).

AmIthatautumnal · 12/10/2015 17:44

I've had it twice, both for extractions

It's a lovely feeling, and I was talking rubbish Sfter.m then I slept like a baby until the next day.

I would recommend it

WandaFuca · 12/10/2015 18:13

I've had Midazolam three times for dental work. The first time was when I was working at the hospital in the Anaethestists' office. When I mentioned Midazolam they were all very encouraging - "go for it, it's lovely" - and said that if patients do talk "under the influence", it's not very intelligible.

Anyway, it wouldn't be easy to reveal anything with a mouth full of dental equipment.

I don't think I was talking gibberish afterwards. I think I was feeling just so very calm and relaxed that it was all over.

Gottagetmoving · 12/10/2015 19:00

I had that drug for a colonoscopy. You don't remember the procedure but like someone else said, I also felt really down the next day. Really weepy and upset for no reason. It probably affects different people differently.

iWipemyass · 12/10/2015 19:45

Another member of the 'I love dental sedation' club.
I have major major issues with dentists after a bad experience as a child. I wont bore with the story but I cant do fingers in my mouth or needles in any way, shape or form.

Apparantely I spent the whole 2 hours I was sedated last time asking for my children non stop.

But other posters are right, you dont give a flying fuck about whats going on.

CatMilkMan · 12/10/2015 20:02

I have a huge fear of being put under and then just constantly farting and shitting myself.
HTH

Original poster

ovaryhill · 12/10/2015 20:06

Catmilkman that's normally what I'm like in the waiting room!
Mrsmorton thank you for the info, much appreciated

OP posts:

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 12/10/2015 20:10

You'll love it.

I had Remifentanil which is basically a bit like what they give for dental sedation when having DS. It was fabulous. I demanded it when I was having DD and was really pissed of when I didn't have time to have the cannula sited and had to give birth naturally even though the anaesthetist got there within 10 minutes of my arrival.

My DH is a dentist and whiled away quite a bit of my first labour chatting to the anaesthetist about different drugs while I gabbled crap at them and intermittently snoozed. Hence why I know the similarities!

Be warned: I thought I was the wittiest person in the room and apparently kept cracking "jokes" which didn't make any sense and then pissing myself laughing.

Millie2013 · 12/10/2015 20:11

I've had treatment under IV sedation twice and they were both really positive experiences. I can't remember the journey home and I slept for ages after both. I'd go through it again in a heartbeat

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 12/10/2015 20:15

Do not spoil this lovely experience by being nervous! Embrace the opportunity!

LeaLeander · 12/10/2015 20:22

One of the best things I ever did, OP.

I have dental phobia and had a backlog of serious issues. Found a sedation dentist and the staff was so kind and understanding I nearly cried (and I am not a crier). Arrived at 7 and was given a pill no IV it must've been horse-strength valium because within about 30 minutes they could have done anything they wanted and I would have lain there smiling.

It was a very long appt and at one point I felt I was surfacing and recall muttering "I am not asleep enough to get my wisdom teeth out" and they laughed kindly and gave me a top-up of the pill. There was the dentist, an assistant and someone monintoring my blood pressure and blood oxygen at all times and at one point they did holler at me to breathe more deeply. So in my case I was out of it enough not to care what they did in my mouth, but not so much I could not follow the occasional command. And at some point midday I did ask to use the lavatory and was guided there but able to use the room with no assistance, then back under my heated blanket to Dreamland.

Not sure how this will parallel with your experience vis a vis the administration of the meds, IV would have been fine too, but I assure you the sedation is actually quite enjoyable and you will absolutely not believe the relief you will feel having addressed some of your dental needs. I was able to make regular appointments for maintenance after that with much less trepidation, though it will never be something I am matter of fact about.

I recently googled the sedation dentist thinking of referring a friend (he was too far away to use permanently though I did go to the practice a total of three times for the major work) and saw with shock he had died at only age 52; I burst into tears and that was the first person I cried over since my mum had died several years ago. He was such a kind man who did so much for people like me and also had a ministry of doing free dental care in impoverished nations a few times a year. I am not religious myself but he and his colleagues all were and they really were examplars of kindness and compassion. In fact I did not want to ask any friends to take off work to come with me due to the distance so I planned to stay in a motel and take a cab; they were perplexed and eventually one of the nurses decreed she would pick me up in the a.m. at 6:45 -- then she drove me back to motel, stopping to get some soft food (you have to fast the night before) and even called my motel room later in the evening to check on me. Really they were angels to me.

Be brave, it will go well for you and you will be so happy!

WhoseBadgerIsThis · 12/10/2015 21:04

Just to chime in that midazolam is great! I had it when I needed an endoscopy, and all I recall was when they dosed me at the start, and then when someone offered me tea and biccies afterwards! In short, it'll be fine, in fact it'll be fun :)

Lambzig · 12/10/2015 21:18

I love sedation. I am terrified at the dentist, but as soon as they agree to sedation I am fine. I experience it as sleep, don't remember at all, but according to DH am embarrassingly and loudly grateful afterwards.

You do need to go home and sleep it off and take it easy the next day, but please try not to worry about it.

It's definitely the best option for those of us with dentist fears.

A further point for me is that it has made me more relaxed and less scared about check ups and hygienist visits because I know that the dentist will Give me sedation if I have to have anything done that I don't want to do without.

WandaFuca · 12/10/2015 21:32

Catmilkman - for all stressful times, I deploy Tena Lady pants. They can contain embarrassments whilst deodorising.

Never actually needed. Waste of money? No, comfort of mind is more important.

CatMilkMan · 12/10/2015 21:35

Wanda could I use them on my mouth as well? I'm terrified I will say something messed up.

Nanny0gg · 13/10/2015 10:27

I used to have sedation as I used to be very scared.
I've had intravenous valium, gas and air and been completely knocked out, just for fillings! I was very, very scared!
I even used to travel long distances to find a sympathetic dentist.

Thought all that was brilliant.

However, for some reason - maybe finding the 'right' dentist- I no longer need all that. I don't like the treatment, he has to be very patient and stop often, but I get by with numbing and nothing else. I even had a tooth out once too (an 'easy' one, but still!)

So there is hope!

Original poster

ovaryhill · 13/10/2015 12:42

Thanks all for comments, feeling a lot better about it now although I'm sure I'll feel nervous on the day
The dentist I'm seeing seems lovely too which I suppose is half the battle!
She was very patient, lovely and sympathetic
I'm getting first lot done early November

OP posts:

BoccadiLupa · 13/10/2015 15:28

I agree with everyone that it is LOVELY but please do make sure that you get someone to come and pick you up afterwards and look after your kids/take over all your responsibilities. I was totally out of it although I apparently gave them my credit card and paid - I have no recollection of that! Dead easy procedure though - cannot recall it at all.

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