Root canal - can I ask my GP to prescribe something to keep me calm?

[JacobJacobson]

Feckin' sweet tooth, all my own fault I'm afraid but I need a root canal next week (that or the tooth comes out which isn't a possibility).

Like lots of people I am very frightened about having dental work, but as this is at least 45 mins in the chair rather than the usual 10 mins and is going to be painful, can I ask my GP to prescribe something to calm me down? Even the thought of it is leaving me on the verge of tears

It shouldn't be painful, uncomfortable, long and not fun, but not painful. I would take some Bach rescue remedy before he starts and have an audio book/podcast or music with you and listen to that. I'm sure the anticipation is much worse than the reality and once the dentist has started you will realise it's not as bad as you thought and will relax a bit?

You can ask your GP and he might or might not give you some diazepam. Really depends on how sympathetic he is.

Good luck, I'm sure it won't hurt and just be uncomfortable. I lost a tooth recently. It sucks.

Thanks! I am a huge worrier and have had panic attacks in the past. I just really want this to go smoothly and not worry about losing the plot in the middle of it

Rescue Remedy????

5mg diazepam the night before and 5mg the morning of the appt more like. My dentist was able to prescribe mine on a private prescription, it cost a tenner or something. I was in the chair for an hour and a half and wouldn't have been able to stand it without the diazepam.

Ask your dentist or failing that the GP. Why suffer unnecessarily?

I've had a root canal done + crown put on and am the biggest wimp here. I can honestly say that the dentist numbed the area so fully, I didn't feel it. Not nice, but doable. . Bach Rescue remedy sounds a good idea. Have you a friend you could take along for moral support? A very kind friend came with me and that did help considerably. Plus life was so much better without toothache!

Your dentist may be able to prescribe from the dental formulary if you need (I can't remember whether anxiolytics are in it). Many GPs would not prescribe for a procedure carried out by another practitioner without the GP supervising the procedure for safety reasons. Some would prescribe. I agree though that root canal work is long but not painful ( at least until the jaw ache the next day from keeping your mouth open so long!)

My dentist already said he won't prescribe anything

Your dentist can prescribe you diazepam. I'm a dentist and I would

You need to speak with your dentist about proper management if your dental anxiety. As a dentist I really really do not like treating people who have had oral sedatives. If I get wind of them having taken them without my knowledge they get the talk. There are more effective and safer ways to manage your anxiety, some of which will also help you over come it.

I'd be very unhappy if you turned up for treatment having dosed yourself up on sedatives. Your consent would be invalid to start with. Definitely need to speak to your dentist...

He categorically said 'well I can't prescribe you anything' when I asked if it would be a possibility to ask my doctor for something to take to keep me calm.

What are the more effective and safer ways of managing my anxiety Bonzo?

Conscious sedation either IV or inhaled. This may be hard to access on the nhs for anything other than extractions.

Psychological therapies, including hypnosis. Can sometimes be accessed on the nhs, especially if you get referred to a dental hospital.

Oral sedatives are a problem because individual responses vary, duration of action varies. You cannot adjust the dose mid treatment. The effects are prolonged and the prescriber is responsible for those effects, even once they are no longer with you. Taking them properly and safely is out of the prescriber's control.

I just had 6of my teeth pulled 2 days ago they give free laughing gas there wich will take away the nervousness but i just had the shot in my mouth without the gas its a pinch but after the 1st its not bad at all I do however highly suggest getting (red ross toothace kit) incase of dry socket afterwards i have one now but with the kit it don't hurt at all Its definetly a gods send from heaven But keep your head up the dentist will do everything to make sure you don't hurt or get scarred personally i think there more sympathetic than doctors are at hospitals lol i had a squirrel looking at me outside my window for 5 min while i was there :)

I had root canal last year. I know it probably won't help, but just so you know, it really was fine. It didn't hurt at all. To be honest the most painful part was later that day when the anaesthetic wore off. Just took some paracetamol and ibuprofen and was good to go. I used to have terrible dental anxiety, but it's honestly fine. No pain during the procedure at all.

Thanks so much for the reassurance! I needed that!

I do think that for some reason 'root canal' strikes fear into people, I've honestly had more painful experiences with a scale and polish vicious hygienist. It really is just long and uncomfortable because your mouth is open for so long. My husband had his done last week without any anaesthetic (not that I'm recommending taking it that far!)

LOL! Definitely not going down the no anaesthetic root (a HA HA)

Oh my gosh, scale and polish with the hygienist is definitely worse..I swear it feels like they are ripping your teeth out one by one!!

But the lovely clean feeling afterwards is literally heavenly!

Good luck for next week JacobJacobson.

bonzo I understand and agree with your sentiments regarding patients turning up for dental work having taken some form of sedation .

But ....the attitude conveyed by your the talk might be one of the reasons they have resorted to medication without your knowledge . Perhaps it was just how it came across in your post and you're the soul of tact in the surgery .

Of all the medical professions dentistry seems to inspire fear in people of being judged and guilt that we've not cleaned our teeth correctly ,that our diet is wrong and of being " told off " . And I think that puts people off from attending until there is a crisis .

That and the emotions that lying flat on your back while a stranger uses power tools in your mouth give rise to .

Ginger - thanks for that post, you are echoing my thoughts exactly, I am already nervous and as an adult feel quite foolish being nervous. What I don't need is to be lectured as if I am a child.

My own dentist was pretty unhelpful, offering no other alternatives to staying calm when I suggested medication. He did, however try to reassure me that really the procedure was not as scary as people thought and if it was painful would only be painful for a short time and not the whole procedure. I'm not sure how he will react if I offer up the list of alternatives that Bonzo has suggested. I'm already in the uncomfortable situation of assuming I won't cope and ask for help which is difficult. I'm sure dental professionals must understand the fear their practice induces, if a patient (as I did) states they are nervous it would be great if they could address that before it gets worse rather than hoping it doesn't cause a problem. A more proactive rather than reactive approach?

Anyway, hopefully it won't be as bad as I am anticipating. I will be taking painkillers before I go and keep them going all day as others have said it can be painful when the anaesthetic fully wears off later.

It's hard isn't it Jacob ?

Small things that have helped me
finding a dental surgery with a really good chair . Was amazed when I encountered one what a difference it made

concentrating on the sensation of the dentists hands against my mouth/lips
( sounds crackers but distracts from the equipment being used )

keep telling myself that in an hour it will all be over

accepting that it is perfectly understandable that you are scared

Good luck . When is your appointment ? I'll give you a virtual hand hold and send good thoughts your way .

You don't have to go back to that dentist. You might be better off finding one who specialises in nervous clients and can offer you sedation

I needed to have three lots of root canal treatment earlier this year - and spent over 6 hours in the dentists chair in a week. Not pleasant but honestly it doesn't hurt - the worst bit is keeping your mouth open for that long! I get very anxious about trips to the dentist and I'm the biggest wuss going. Take some ibruprofen before you go, have a cup of chamomile tea - and then follow gingeroots suggestions. Seriously you'll be fine, and skipping out of there in less than an hour.

I hate the dentist - am utterly terrified of them. I went to one once who refused to prescribe diazepam and decided she would talk me through the process - she obviously hadn't believed me when I was said I was nervous, and the appointment didn't go well. The 2 I have been to since have both been happy to prescribe diazepam and it's been a godsend. I think it's down to the individual dentist, and hope you can find one who takes your anxiety more seriously. Dental phobia is miserable.

Jacob, I really feel for you.

I am nervous about the dentist. When I needed treatment, it was the dentist who suggested that I take temazapam and gave me a prescription. He also told me to take someone else along and not drive. My husband went with me and merrily chatted to the dentist about anything and everything (except the dental work) which helped me relax.

If you are not happy find another dentist who understands your fears. Lots of people are scared, and there are many dentists who are used to this and understand.