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Original poster

Has anyone had dental work under sedation?

26 replies

Maize · 18/03/2010 21:53

I finally braved going to the dentist today and I need a filling. I am very very scared and the dentist is a special service for people who are scared and she said it would be best done under sedation.

I think this is a v.g idea because I don't think I could actually sit there while anyone did anything to my mouth with me awake!

But now I am scared of the sedation, I have cared for people using entonox and people sedated with midazolam but she said they used ketamine and something else? What if I vom, what if I make a fool of myself?

So any experience of dental work under sedation?
Thanks!

OP posts:
southeastastra · 18/03/2010 21:55

my ds was sedated - he was back to normal in no time.

so was my dp who was a bit more, well entertaining . no really you will be fine

kittywise · 18/03/2010 21:56

I had it for a v. tricky wisdom tooth extraction. I wasn't aware of anything during the treatment. It was fine.

GlastonburyGoddess · 18/03/2010 21:59

sorry to hijack your thread, but does anyone know if you can be sedated for dental work whilst pregnant?
Ive had teeth out before, but need a wisdom out witch has barely any tooth left, so theyre going to have to literally "dig" it out, im scared shitless at the best of times with the dentist but the idea of this extraction is putting me off going so I keep getting tooth infections. also do you have to pay to be sedated and do they do it at the practice or do you have to go into hospital?

Original poster
Maize · 18/03/2010 22:02

GlastonburyGodess - I don't know about the sedation while pregnant issue but my dental work is all NHS based through a specialist service. I was referred by a colleague at work (I work for the NHS) which is a bit unusual but if you go to your normal dentist and ask they should know?

OP posts:
2shoes · 18/03/2010 22:03

i had it and was fine(ds had it for a cap) and he was fine.
it is weird as you are kind of aware, but not there. I would recomend it as it got me over my fear of dentists.

Original poster
Maize · 18/03/2010 22:04

This is what I am scared of 2shoes, that I will be aware and kick off anyway I had a tooth removed as a teenager and i screamed and screamed I was so afraid.

OP posts:
BettySwollux · 18/03/2010 22:04

I had all 4 wisdom teeth out when I was about 17.
I had 'twilight sleep' and it was bloody brilliant! You are conscious during whatever is going on, and able to respond to instructions etc, but you cant remember a single thing.

Its like having 12 pints without the projectile vomiting .

missdduke · 18/03/2010 22:05

I had an impacted wisdom tooth (they also had to dig it out) out 2 wks ago under sedation so I can answer 2 of these questions.

I was also very nervous about the sedation, they put a needle in my hand and I felt a bit drunk and then just very dreamy (if you've ever been stoned on marajuana it feels EXACTLY like being really stoned). I was aware I had my mouth open and people were walking about but I was really spaced out and then in what felt like 2 mins (was actually 15mins) they said 'ok all finished'.
They sat me in a recovery room where I was chatting to my husband, but not very well cos I couldn't feel my mouth. I didn't feel sick, wasn't talking rubbish, I was just very quiet and felt odd but in a quite pleasant way.

When I got home, I slept for 2hours and then for next 24 hours I just kept having waves of sleepiness, and then literally at 1.30pm the next day (24hr after i had the sedation) I felt a lot better and normal again.

I really was very nervous, my heart was going 10 to the dozen when I sat in the dentists chair and I can honestly say the whole experience was no problem at all, couldn't feel any sensations, no pain, would def do it again!

Hope that helps!

Ewe · 18/03/2010 22:06

I always have gas and air at the dentist (and did so whilst pregnant). I can still feel it but don't care as I am so relaxed and happy

hester · 18/03/2010 22:06

I had wisdom teeth out under twilight sedation too and, um, I did actually make a fool of myself (details available on request and payment). But the good thing about it is, you don't care

Original poster
Maize · 18/03/2010 22:09

Oh god hester.

I am terrified I will start talking (or trying to talk haha) about my sex life, or flash my boobs or something. I don't normally do these things but I am soooooooo worried.

Can you tell that dentists are a sore point for me?

My mum was all pah grit your teeth girl so I feel better that other people need sedation too.

I had my wisdom out under a GA and was VERY relived at that.

OP posts:
jasper · 18/03/2010 22:23

Maize I am a dentist and sedate patients often.
I have sedated hundreds of patients. Noone has ever been sick, had a bad reaction, or given away any of their secrets. It's not like that. It does not make you act or speak out of character.

Missduke describes it very well.

The other way it has been described is that feeling you can get last thing at night or first thing in the morning when you are in the twilight zone between awake and asleep.

Only two out of all those I have sedated did not enjoy the experience.

You will be fine .

paisleyleaf · 18/03/2010 22:23

I'm glad you posted this thread Maize. I'm due to have some dental work under sedation and have been feeling the same way as you about it.
missdduke's post was good to read.

hester · 18/03/2010 23:06

Maize, I didn't do anything like that

OK, just to reassure you: while with the dentist I was too doped to do anything other than following orders. I just got a little bit, um, daft afterwards, when it was all wearing off, and I got rather giggly and into escaping down long hospital corridors, with my irritated friend in pursuit.

But spilling secrets, flashing boobs? No way, honestly it doesn't disinhibit you like that.

I was with it enough to be shocked sober when I got to the car park, white-faced and with dark blood and spit dribbling down my chin, and this strange guy came up and asked me out on a date. Honestly, I looked like a vampire on a bad hair day. I just stared at him, thinking, "If ever I am that desperate, just shoot me".

You will be absolutely fine, honest. The anticipation is way worse than the reality.

Monty100 · 18/03/2010 23:15

Maize I've had it for routine work, couple of fillings and a clean. (Petrified of dentists, sorry Jasper ). I could hear everything and was aware they were there but didn't feel a thing. And I was delighted to have had the work done. It was a rather pleasant feeling, so don't worry honestly.

I would love to have a friend who is a dentist.

RockbirdisdrinkingGuinness · 18/03/2010 23:24

I had about four teeth out last year under sedation. I hadn't been to a dentist for 20 years and was terrified. They put the needle in my hand, I remember being asked to open my mouth and that's it. The rest is a total blank. I managed to kick off lace up DM style boots though

Sorry, I was sick afterwards and spent the rest of the day on MIL's sofa asleep but it was worth every second. I have to be sedated again for some fillings but can't afford it yet. When I can I won't hesitate to be sedated, it's fab!

Monty100 · 18/03/2010 23:36

Hey RB - I keep bumping into you. You sound as bad as me with the dentist!

OP - I think the general concensus here is, go for it and don't worry. You'll be so happy to get the work done.

I paid for mine private (and it hurt the purse), so like RB would like to go again but it was ££££

ButterPie · 18/03/2010 23:41

I was sedated and it was lovely, I even got an afternoon in bed afterwards! Score!

Monty100 · 18/03/2010 23:45

Lol Butterpie

SparklyGothKat · 18/03/2010 23:45

DH was sedated when he had his teeth done, he has no memory of the operation, and also has no memory of getting home, he says that the last thing he remembers is being in the densist chair and then waking up in bed at home, he was that he was so out of it, he doesn't remember me and my dad holding him to get him into the car, he slept for the rest of the day and then was fine.

I recently had my wisdom teeth pulled under a GA (I am very very scared of operations etc) and walked out the hospital like I had had an injection, was completely fine.

Monty100 · 19/03/2010 00:32

I got off the bed, sat and wrote a cheque, got driven home, carried on as normal.

Was a wee bit 'stoned' probably (had to be to write the cheque lol) but apart from that, fine.

MadamDeathstare · 19/03/2010 00:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 19/03/2010 07:07

i work as a receptionist for a dentist who does sedation and can honestly say in all my 5 years if I have ever gone into the room I have just seen people lying there in the chair as if they are asleep.

Sometimes people are a wee bit giggly and overfriendly when they come out (usually the dour serious ones!) but noone has ever really embarrassed themselves!!

QueenofWhatever · 19/03/2010 11:23

I am another dental phobic who gets sedation on the NHS. I also work for the NHS so it must be the only perk of the job, eh?

I am due to have my third lot of sedation in a few months time. I get excessively nervous (takes me a good quarter of an hour to actually sit in the chair). I make them use emla cream to numb my arm where they will put the cannula in. I have never remembered a thing but have been told I am very entertaining and chat away like anything. Last time I started fighting the dentist off and he said it was 50:50 as to being able to complete the work.

It's worth trying to understand why you get so nervous. Phobias respond very well to CBT and your GP could refer you to the Improving Access to Psychological Services scheme to get treatment. I have quite serious issues about dentistry due to abuse in the past, but having sedation and a dentist I trust makes a big difference.

Lovecat · 19/03/2010 11:49

I had a tooth out under sedation in January - once he'd put the needle in I was pretty much unaware of what was going on. I do recall being driven home by DH, stopping en-route to pick DD up from his sister's, but the next thing I knew was waking up in bed at 3am in a puddle of drool (nice!).

Apparently I kept asking if I could eat yet... I hadn't had anything for 12 hours beforehand, as instructed, and was starving! Even after I'd had something to eat, I was still burbling on about whether I could eat or not - don't remember that at all! DH was amused by it rather than irritated, thankfully...

Felt fine the next day but had been advised to take it off, so I took advantage and slept - actually it was very restful, a really deep, refreshing sleep.

Good luck