Was I inappropriate to request this from my dentist?

[plos]

I have to be sedated for some dental work I have coming up. I like and trust my dentist. But I just feel very vulnerable as a woman being in that position. So I requested my husband be with me when I’m out of it. Just for peace of mind. The dentist definitely gave off the vibe that what I was asking was odd. I didn’t go into the why. I was told it was not possible

was it that weird to ask? I do err on the side of caution. I watch too much true crime probably. When we had IVF I asked that my husband stayed with his sample. I was paranoid that his sample would be swapped. This was definitely a direct result of watching the doc where the dr used his own. And to be fair the clinic allowed it.

But anyway. I think if a woman feels vulnerable (given the level of abuse women encounter) then I should be able to request safeguards

When I was sedated I had my dentist, a nurse and some doing the sedation who was also a dentist (or it could be a doctor) who happened to be my dentists wife- and they are great people. After my surgery he walked me to the car and made sure I was sat in it and fated I before I was driven home!

I’m very lucky he is NHS too

Seriously?- I've never had major work without a nurse there too- sedation is usually handled by a specialist- a lone dentist only uses local.

I stayed with my mum a few times as she was a very nervous patient and was never made to feel it was unusual or a problem.

The dental nurse is a chaperone for both the dentist and the patient. That is a very important and big part of their job. A dentist will not treat you without their nurse.

I think the dental nurse should be there, however, they may need to pop out like they sometimes do so I understand your feelings on this. I’d explain why.

Oh for heavens sake

You are asking a trained medical professional if it's ok for your boo to be present as he performs a medical procedure in a sterile (or close to as can be) room

When said medical professional will have at least one nurse supporting

Would you want your husband there for gallbladder removal or him to snuggle up with you in an MRI??

Just had this done and there were 2 dental nurses in the room the whole time, 1 of which was holding my hand

What kinds of magazines does he have in the waiting room?

Pls cite the document or knowledge you based this on.

I had weekly work on my teeth under sedation and I was allowed a person with me. There was also the dentist plus nurse.
This was in an NHS hospital...there were 10 or so beds with only waist high barriers between each cubicle. Once lying down you couldn't see each other.

Page 28 of this document states you need at least one other sedation trained person , alongside the sedationist . https://www.saad.org.uk/IACSD%202020.pdf
and there will be at least one dental nurse in addition to provide the dental nursing support as required by GDC standards

But does it state no other ppl e.g husband allowed?

There are many reasons why someone else may not be allowed

it depends on the proceedure eg implant etc the surgery is set up sterile with drapes etc and any else would need to be gowned up , briefed on not touching anything , surfaces etc and space needs to be made for them and a chair in a room that already will have at least four people in it all with jobs to do

many people do not react well to witnessing dental/surgical proceedures ranging from fainting to becoming aggressive or argumentative. I once had a child in the chair for an extraction which they handled brilliantly but both parents fainted right by the doors , so help couldn’t get in and we had the child, and two parents to cope with.

I also had a patients partner take out their phone and start filming them as they thought it was funny when the patient was having a complex proceedure . They got very aggressive when told to stop filming and leave the room.

People find it hard to sit for an hour or more without phones etc to distract them , but for obvious reasons we cannot let phones be used in these circumstances , both for privacy reasons and because phone screens are a Petri dish of bacteria .

When you are doing a complex proceedure, particularly under sedation it is difficult to have to also monitor what an accompanying person is doing for an hour or more whilst you are carrying out a complex microsurgery. With very nervous patients we would often let someone be in with them whilst they were induced and then send them out to wait. With at least three professionals in the room at all times safe guarding is not a concern.

Absolutely reasonable. Reports of women being assaulted while sedated or unconscious or even dead in funeral homes mean we are never guaranteed to be safe. I would want a chaperone.