Wisdom tooth extraction and IV sedation, questions and irrational fears

[bestcatlife]

So it looks like I'm having my lower wisdom tooth removed, it is impacted and laid on its side. I was really 😳 at the x-ray.
I've been offered sedation which I wasn't expecting, and I've said I'll take it... it's a 3 month wait but I think I can manage, I've only had one flare up so far (dentist thinks it's beginning to get infected).

I'm quite scared but I have some time to get my head around it. I had my lower right side removed a few years ago, I was awake and everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.. awful experience with hammering and cracking, I ended up screaming 😥 which was kind of beyond my control, I just felt in shock and couldn't control my body. I then got dry socket which wasn't actually that bad. The worst part was the dentist used the wrong stitches and so they didn't dissolve naturally, they got infected and had to be removed which was the absolute worst pain .., I still get quite angry about that. I'm hoping not to be referred back to him.
It took ages to heal.

I'm thinking that it can't be that bad again, like I had bad luck before and surely it can't happen like that again.

I've never been put under. But I did have sedation as a child for a tooth removal.. I just remember sitting in the chair and then waking up in the waiting room.

My fear is what if I don't wake up?
Is it common to throw up afterwards? I'm scared of vomiting

Might sound weird but what are the chances of coming round and then going back under, for example hours later or the next day? Or staying permanently sedated? Are there drugs to bring you out of sedation if it's taking too long for you to come round?

the aim with sedation is usually to have you roughly aware of what's going on but just not caring about it. How they achieve that (/what drugs they use) will depend on who's doing the sedating, how (oral/inhaled/IV) and where (at the dentists/ in hospital). They should be able to answer your questions before starting so you're giving informed consent. (doi: anaesthetist)

Sorry for all your wisdom tooth troubles OP. I had a lower wisdom tooth removed under sedation (at hospital) 10ish years ago. I didn’t really know what was happening due to the sedation but I don’t remember it being painful or scary. The hospital recommended someone stay with me for 24 hours, I was fine. My dentist referred me to the dental hospital, that might be possible if you didn’t like the dentist who did it last time? Hope it all goes smoothly for you!

I had a lower wisdom tooth removed at the hospital under sedation.
It really wasnt bad at all if I am honest and I am a wimp!

They take you in and place an IV in your arm. They then give the medication slowly.
The medication will depend on who is sedating you and what hospital youre in etc.
I was given Midazolam which doesnt knock you out completely but just makes you very relaxed and fuzzy feeling.
They then put a pulse monitor on to check your heart rate.
Once youre relaxed they put the local anaesthetic injections into your gums and take the tooth out.
It wasnt painful at all and I dont remember hearing much as I was so relaxed.
The tooth took less time to come out than the IV did going in!
They ask someone drives you to and drom the hospital because you shouldnt drive after sedation.
I could walk perfectly fine afterwards then promptly fell asleep at home.
Just make sure they keep the area clean after meals. Flush it with chlorhexadine mouthwash to remove food debris.
Mine wasnt stitched so did this after every meal.

You will wake up. You’re safer under general with a team of doctors and nurses monitoring every vital sign than you are flying on a plane on holiday or driving a car.

Ive had general 4 times now and never thrown up or woken up during. I’ve also never fallen asleep and gone ‘back under’ again… that’s not a thing. Yes they can bring you out of sedation.

Oh sorry I realise you said sedation not general. Either way you’ll be fine, but sedation is even safer than general.