Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

TOOTH EXTRACTION UNDER SEDATION!!!

40 replies

littlemum007 · 07/07/2011 10:33

I'm a grown up Mum and petrified of the dentist - haven't been for 20 years until 5 days ago - currently in pain and have been urgently recommended to Queen Alexandras Hospital in Portsmouth (Southampton?) for top, left, back extraction under GA - I'm being admitted as an excessively nervous patient - I had a bad experience 20 years and never went back.... Can anyone allay my fears - I worry that i might not wake up and my son will wonder where I am.

OP posts:
hester · 07/07/2011 10:37

You won't be under sedation, you'll be under GA. You won't know anything about it, and when you wake up it will all be over. The actual work will be very, very quick - you won't need much GA so the risks of something going wrong are vanishingly low. And you won't wake up at the wrong time, I promise.

But you know all that, don't you? Your head knows you will be absolutely fine, but you are really scared and I understand that. So: when are you going in and how are you going to look after yourself till you get there? Do you have a good RL friend who can 'talk you down' when you get too anxious? Do you use any relaxation techniques?

Original poster
littlemum007 · 07/07/2011 18:33

thanks hester but how do you know all this? what if they give me too much GA because I'm overweight and they think I need more? The only relaxation technique I use is alcohol but of course I can't have any. I can let on to my son that I'm nervous because I have had to ensure that he is not like me, if you know what I mean.

OP posts:
hester · 07/07/2011 21:58

Well, you're right: I'm not a dentist, or an anaesthetist, and I can't know for sure that nothing will go wrong - no-one can. But you know that this is a low risk procedure, and that the agonies of anxiety you are going through now are far worse than anything you will go through on the day.

When are you going in, little mum?

Original poster
littlemum007 · 08/07/2011 07:27

currently, I'm waiting, and in a fair amount of pain, for a call from Queen A's. I called them yesterday to hurry them up but they said there would normally be a delay of approx 8 weeks (huh!) I'll be dead by then - I'm already on 500 mg of anti biotics because my left side is infected - I can barely eat - its day 3 of 5 of the anti biotics and I'm also having to take regular paracetemol/ibuprofen - I just want to get it over with - I'll be calling them again today - otherwise I'll be calling the Primary care Trust dental emergency departments - yes, I am in a bit of a state because I've already cancelled an interview this week and re-arranged it for Tuesday - cos I can barely speak and the following week I'm supposed to be temping and I really need the money - its all a bit of a bummer really.

OP posts:
Cyclebump · 08/07/2011 07:35

I had 14 procedures under ga as a child and my dad's had three within the past three years. I was tiny when I had mine and my dad is 6ft 7" and very overweight, so not your average size.

While there's always a tiny risk anaesthetists are exceptionally well trained. And have to be highly qualified to work in the UK.

I too was a dentist phobic and it's horrible but you can do it! Xx

feckwit · 08/07/2011 07:52

I had teeth extracted under sedation NOT GA. It was brilliant, highly recommend it. I was awake but just don't really remember it!. Like you I had a huge dental phobia so joined a website for nervous patients and found a local dentist and paid privately. He deals specifically with anxious patients and was lovely. It cost me around £300 mind!

mumblechum1 · 08/07/2011 07:58

If it's the GA that's bothering you, then just go for a local.

I had a tooth taken out about a year ago as there was an abcess underneath it. They do have to wait for the anti biotics to reduce the swelling/infection before they can do the extraction.

My dentist was lovely, it took literally no more than 2 seconds. I was surprised at how totally painless and quick it was. There was practically no bleeding and no pain afterwards either because he very sensibly told me to take paracetomols every 4 hours whether it was hurting or not.

AND he said not to do anything strenuous so I lay on the sofa all day and watched daytime tv Grin

I know what you mean about being nervous, I had an absolute psycho brute of a dentist when I was a kid and was q. scared for a long time but once you find a nice gentle dentist you'll be fine.

mumblechum1 · 08/07/2011 07:58

Oh, and mine cost me £35 (private practice) for a local.

hester · 08/07/2011 10:59

I had my wisdom teeth out under twilight anaesthetic. Worth considering?

GwendolineMaryLacey · 08/07/2011 11:02

I didn't go for 20 years. When I did go I needed about 4 teeth out and a couple of fillings. There was no way I could have any work done without sedation so that's what I had. It was fab. Was sick as a dog afterwards and spent the rest of the day in bed but it was well worth it. All I remember is the anaesthetist putting a line in my hand and I was out. It was fab :) Need more work done but am pg so can't be sedated. I'm waiting till I can.

Original poster
littlemum007 · 08/07/2011 16:12

Oh Hester, very funny! was it done by a vampire?

OP posts:
Craftymoo · 08/07/2011 20:54

I understand your nerves, I avoided the dentist for 6 yrs until my tooth cracked. I have been back every 6 month since! However, I have also had a twilight anaesthetic for wisdom teeth removal. It was amazing, I remember nothing about it and didn't feel anything. Apparently I was awake throughout. Mind was done on the NHS, so normal charged applied. Good luck! x

Original poster
littlemum007 · 08/07/2011 22:21

I thought Hester was joking!! Exactly what is a twilight anaesthetic then?

OP posts:
hester · 08/07/2011 22:28

No, not joking Smile. Twilight anaesthetic is local anaesthetic plus a whopping sedative. You're not actually asleep, but not really conscious either. Less risk than a GA, but no consciousness or memory of any dental work happening.

Midge25 · 08/07/2011 22:36

I had both my lower wisdom teeth extracted under GA in Oct last year. Not dentist-phobic, but my first experience of a GA/theatre setting, so was still v nervous. It was fine - so fine, in fact, that when I woke up, I told the recovery nurse to f-off so I could go back to sleep Grin

Original poster
littlemum007 · 09/07/2011 12:46

Oh NO"! Midge - I said exactly that to the doctor when I was having a baby, only not so I could have some sleep but so he'd stop treating me like a piece of meet.... mind you, he deserved it.

I think I might have to check back here just before I go under!
I will know on Monday when I've got to go in - however, right now, the antibiotics seem to be doing the trick with the pain/infection but I obviously can't eat on that side.

OP posts:
Original poster
littlemum007 · 11/07/2011 17:54

I've killed the thread!!! I'm going in next week. My son has kindly offered me some toffees!!

OP posts:
hester · 11/07/2011 22:16

No, I was about to come and ask how it was going. Next week: sorry that it can't be sooner but at least it will be done.

Keep us posted!

Original poster
littlemum007 · 26/07/2011 23:55

It's now 26th July and I'm going in on Monday 2nd - I think I may die and you've all given up on me. I've got no one to pick me up and I have to catch a train by myself afterwards, somehow.

OP posts:
acsec · 27/07/2011 00:00

I had an impacted wisdom tooth extracted with only local anaesthetic and it was fine, even afterwards it didn't hurt when the LA wore off, so I think GA will be even better :)

piprabbit · 27/07/2011 00:01

littlemum - i've just found this thread, glad you've got your dates but Sad that you are still so anxious.

GA is not so bad, in fact i rather like it Blush, rather a nice sensations of drifting away to sleep.

You need to double check that the hospital are Ok to do the procedure if you are travelling alone afterwards. Every time I, or any member of my family, has had any form of GA or sedation the HCP has always made it clear that they will not do the procedure unless the patient is accompanied home and looked after for 24 hours afterwards.

Original poster
littlemum007 · 27/07/2011 00:07

Oh dear, piprabbit, I hadn't thought of that.... doesn't it just suck when you're a single mum with no living relative! I don't really want to involve my 13 year old son but I may just have to.

I'm going to find out if they'll just get me a cab home or something otherwise I'll be stuck - I've only got my brother in Perth Australia - my mum's in Blackheath and she wouldn't even attend my funeral let alone do motherly things...

OP posts:
Original poster
littlemum007 · 27/07/2011 00:09

Piprabbit, if I can't provide this information about being accompanied home and looked after afterwards, shall I presume then that they will keep me in overnight?.... this is going to get tricky.

OP posts:
happylittlebear · 27/07/2011 00:26

I had a wisdom tooth removed under sedation a few years ago at the dental hospital in Kings (London) as I was also petrified of the dentist, it was absolutely brilliant and would definitely recommend it, I was fully able to talk and be aware of what was happening but I didnt care :)
Very similar to being drunk i'd say!
Much less daunting than being totally put to sleep.
You will definitely need someone with you for a GA or sedation, they are very strict about it and that you need someone at home with you afterwards or they wont do it, they turned two people away while I was there as they turned up on their own.
After they took my tooth out I was taken in a side room to rest until the drugs started to wear off and they wouldnt let me go until I could walk in a straight line Grin

SchrodingersMew · 27/07/2011 00:29

Littlemum I have known 2 people to have this done and they really will not let you leave unless you are supervised and are able to have someone there for 24 hours... I don't think they will keep you overnight either.

Hope it goes well. :)