To ask to be knocked out instead?

[WheresThefeckinglove]

I have notoriously terrible teeth and am having a couple of rotten ones taken out in a few weeks' time. I'm absolutely terrified.

The actual procedure of getting them taken out doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's just the anaesthetic injection that petrifies me. I had to get several teeth out a few years back and I went in expecting the injection to be just a little nip and then numbness. I was proved badly wrong; I've had two children and I would rather go through childbirth again than have another injection in my mouth. Even today I still start shaking and feel like I could literally burst into tears every time I sit in the dentists' chairs.

I'm already breaking out in a sweat at the thought of having to have another one in a few weeks' time. A friend of mine mentioned getting teeth out as a child and being completely knocked out by anaesthetic beforehands. I'm aware it's a tad drastic, but the thought is so much more preferable than an injection in my mouth.

WIBU unreasonable to ask for the same instead of having the injection? And would this even be possible - ie if you are an adult who technically doesn't have a problem with getting it in injection form (as opposed to young children, certain types of disability etc), will they point-blank refuse to put you completely under?

(I should probably add I use an NHS dentist)

You can ask for numbing cream to be applied before the injection. I have this as I'm petrified of the dentist. It really does work and you won't be able to feel the needle.

It honestly sounds like something went wrong with that first injection. It honestly doesn't hurt that much, it is a nip then numbness.

I am pretty sure they don't put people to sleep anymore at the dentist, you have to be referred. You need to speak to your dentist about this.

You could get a low dose of diazepam from your GP to give you a small sedation

I will ask about numbing cream, thank you!

It was definitely more than a nip, although the numbness was almost instantaneous. It hurt most in the top of my mouth - I could feel the needle sort of sliding in and it was hellish.

Is it a front upper tooth? Those injections are fucking sore!!! Definitely ask for the numbing gel, its amazing stuff!

Talk to your dentist about how you feel and the possibilities.
Breathe out as the needle goes in, I find it helps.

God I hate the needle - little nip my arse!
I've also had the injections to numb from front teeth and that was awful.

I remember as a child having the gas wafted across my face and promptly falling asleep, much easier.
I asked my dentist for it - said I was more than happy to sign any waiver and have my partner collect me and stay with me but apparently they don't do it anymore 😡

But yes, the numbing gel does help :)

One of those I got out last time was front upper tooth. This time it's upper canine

I get you -I had the dentist from hell (now does not practise due to multiple legal cases!) and she managed to stab me deep in the tongue before getting me in the right place. I remember bracing and gripping the seat in agony. Her chirpy "WHOOPS!!" still gets me. I should have walked out right then. The numbing gel does work, but I've had injections since and they have not been half as bad. Good luck OP, you will be fine

The vast majority of dental procedures needing done under GA have to be done in hospitals now; a few specialist clinics offer it, but it's unlikely your dentist will do it as it's felt to be too dangerous now. You could talk to them about conscious sedation (although they don't all do that either), or ask your GP to give you diazepam- most won't mind prescribing one tablet for a specific reason.

Ask if your dentist offers sedation. I'm an absolute coward and it's honestly best thing ever.

It shouldn't hurt like that it shouldn't feel worse than stabbing yourself in the gum with a sharp crisp! If you really are that terrified speak to your dentist and they'll go through your options with you, although it's unlikely that they'll knock you out I'm afraid

My daughter gets nervous and they referred her to a special Nhs dentist who used laughing gas rather than a general and this was enough to keep her calm.

I remember having teeth out under GA at the dentist surgery as a child. If it was done by injection in the arm then it was done by the visiting anaesthetist from the hospital. I can also remember having a tooth out at another dentist and being given gas (no anaesthetist present that time) and I still remeber the horror of it now - more than 40 years later. I could still hear the dentist talking whilst I was under and my gums bled for ages after the extraction under gas. I don't think they carry out this procedure at dental surgeries now - treatment requiring GA are usually carried out as day cases in hospital.

I have had 2 extractions as an adult - as an alternative to root canal fillings - and have had both done under Local injection. A lot depends on the area the injection is required - if they are dealing with a front tooth it can feel like the needle is going straight up behind your nose. Teeth further back are not as bad - well in my experience the injection is fine but I won't talk about the tugging and pulling to get the tooth out.

You can ask for a referral to a specialist dental practice who offer conscious sedation. This is IV not tablets and works a dream 😀

You can ask for a referral to a specialist dental practice who offer conscious sedation. This is IV not tablets and works a dream

This is what i have :)

I had my 2 upper wisdom teeth out yesterday under local and I was crapping myself. The injection on the inside gum hurt quite a lot but not unbearably so and it's only a few seconds. Given the reduced recovery time I'd go for local.

And that's from the woman who cried in the waiting room cause I was so terrified!

You can refuse an injection and insist on sedation, but you have to contact them now. You will have to go to a hospital dental department. They dont like to do it and you will have to just refuse any other option.

You'll be able to access Iv sedation much sooner than GA extraction

I've had to wait over a year with 2 abscesses to have mine removed as they're complicated extractions

I remember the same injection about 8 years ago. My mouth hurts just thinking about it 😭😭😭 it was the most painful injection I've ever had.
YANBU, i'd do the same. No way wouls I have that pain in my guns again 😭😭

You may have to pay privately for sedation. In my county there's only one dentist with an NHS sedation contract, other places you can pay NHS fees for treatment but privately for the sedation.

I'd expect a waiting list of up to a year to have a GA if you're accepted into the waiting list.

I had a 6 month wait from when my dentist referred me to maxillo-facial department at the local hospital to being seen at outpatients and then given a day surgery appointment to get 2 teeth removed under a general anaesthetic. I wasn't in any pain before the operation, so happy to wait. My dentist told me I needed my wisdom tooth out, I asked about ha and he happily referred me. When o had the X-rays at the hospital they discovered the tooth in front was damaged and loose, so said they would whip both out. Nobody batted an eyelid at me asking for ga.