Dental Work W/ Sedation Question

[kilee]

So, I went for my yearly check-up w/ the dentist (which in all honesty was closer to 18 months). Anyhow, I am one of those people that is a BIG BABY about going to the dentist. Never was had a real painful procedure and now I've actually had 2 full fledge panic attacks going.

Anyhow, I guess I have an impacted wisdom tooth that has a cavity. What I really want to know is how a tooth under the gums gets a cavity . Anyway- the dentist referred me to an oral surgeon because it's going to be an involved procedure. She also wrote on the paper w/ IV sedation. Isn't it risky to get sedation at the dentists office??? Isn't this something they should do in a hospital setting? Will I be awake, will I be aware???? Any advice is great. I'm looking at having it done in early June. No insurance- so this will work really well w/ our budget. It's not emergent- but the dentist advises I have it done within the next 6 months- before the cavity grows to the point it involves the nerve and does cause me a problem. So, I'm just wondering how this works w/ sedation and what happens.

 

[VSL]

I was sedated a few times when I was little in a dentists office.

It wasn't my regular dentist's office though - it was elsewhere. Definitely not a hospital though (as I've been sedated in hospital a few times too!).

 

[kbkids]

I was sedated at the oral surgeon in my 20's when I had to have my impacted wisdom teeth removed. I was aware of bits and pieces of the surgery - more of a "twilight sedation" - kinda in and out. And I was able to walk of the office (had to have someone drive me home), but it wasn't that big of a deal.

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

When I had all my teeth removed for dentures. It was done in the regular dental office (my dentist is also an oral surgeon. I was sedated during the procedure and was there for the better part of the day. Some one had to pick me up to take me home.

 

[minniecarousel]

Def not a problem having IV sedation in an oral surgeon's office. It will probably be "consious sedation" - not really a heavy knock-out.

 

[Shugardrawers]

The person inserting the IV and monitoring you will be certified and specifically trained in IV sedation therapy. No need to worry. I was completely unconsious when I had my wisdom teeth removed but you may be only lightly conscious.

 

[foxfire]

I had to have a wisdom tooth removed a few months ago by an oral surgeon. The procedure was done in his office and I was given propofol. Propofol is a sedative which allows you to wake up from it quickly. It also didn't cause nausea which many sedatives do. I was out completely and didn't know a thing while the tooth was being extracted - which is what I wanted. I had some type monitoring equipment on (don't recall just what it was though) so they could make sure I was doing okay while under the sedative. I really didn't feel groggy after I woke up but I had been told to have someone come with me to drive me home. Here's a link with more info -

http://www.drugs.com/propofol.html

I was given a prescription for a pain med to take at home. I think it was diazepam. I only wound up taking one of those and never did really have pain, just a little discomfort. I took that one pill before going to bed that night so I would be sure to get a good night's sleep. I was fine when I woke up the next morning.

 

[gradtchr]

When I have to see an oral surgeon I would not want to be concsious period the end. I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed while I was in his office and snoozed the entire time. It was the best thing for me, and I truly wish I could be sedated every time I go to the regular dentist.

 

[kilee]

I've had 2 wisdom teeth removed actually very quickly and easily. But there was no problem w/ how they grew in. They just actually both broke and needed to come out since they wouldn't repair wisdom teeth. They were both quick extractions.
This one though is impacted and sideways. The dentist said even she wouldn't have it out w/o sedation because it's going to take alittle bit of work to get it out . I just wondered what the sedation was going to be like-- because honestly I don't wanna know anything!! I have to call Monday- it was too late Friday- and like I said- she pretty much said get it done in the next 6 months. I just know sometimes they're really booked up- so I'm gonna call Monday for the pricing and such too. I'm hoping for not much more than $1000 (fingers crossed and all). The initial paperwork did mention having someone to drive me home.

 

[mudnuri]

I'm going at 9:45 Tuesday morning for 4 extractions- 1 being an impacted wisdom tooth...funny part already had this wisdom tooth removed in 96!!! Must be super smart to have 2 in the same spot!

That said- I have NEVER had an extraction without sedation. Heck, if they'd let me I'd get filings with sedation!

i dont think its conscious - I dont remember a think, and actually cant ever remember how I got to the recovery room in the office! They claim I walked, but I dont believe it.

I'll be on T3's for a couple days after, as I have 3 different area's of my mouth being affected this time. Left lower, left upper and right lower. Chances are I wont be eating much for a few days...

I hate the dentist, but after this- I have 1 filling/rebuild left, and until this heals and I get my lower partial, I'm DONE except for cleanings...pending nothing breaks in the meantime!

Brandy

 

[va32h]

My son had to have dental work done under IV sedation - he was only 2, and there was no way he could handle the procedure while conscious.

The procedure was done in the dentist's office, but it was a trained anesthesiologist, and I felt very secure.

The sedation alone cost $500, and our insurance covered none of that, since it was considered "elective".

He was completely unconscious. I was terrified the whole time I was driving him home because he couldn't even hold his head up, and I was afraid if I turned the car too sharply he'd get whiplash or something.

 

[luvflorida]

DD15 is scheduled to have all 4 wisdom teeth extracted on March 24. She is having it done at the oral surgeon's office, (not her regular dentist), and she will be completely under with general anesthesia. I will be allowed to stay with her until the general anesthesia takes effect, then I won't see her until she is in the recovery room. The oral surgeon said it should take about an hour, maybe a bit longer. All four teeth are impacted. The top two are encased in bone, (!), and the bottom two are completely sideways.

Daughter is more nervous about the IV needle than about the actual extractions. We'll all be glad when it's over, and hopefully recovery won't be too bad.

Good luck to you and here's a !

 

[4greatboys]

I had a wisdom tooth removed by a DDS a month or so ago. They give you a light twilite sedation. I was kind of groggy the rest of the afternoon but I dont remember a thing about the procedure. I dont like going to the dentist either but this was very painless.

 

[minkydog]

I'm going at 9:45 Tuesday morning for 4 extractions- 1 being an impacted wisdom tooth...funny part already had this wisdom tooth removed in 96!!! Must be super smart to have 2 in the same spot!

That said- I have NEVER had an extraction without sedation. Heck, if they'd let me I'd get filings with sedation!

i dont think its conscious - I dont remember a think, and actually cant ever remember how I got to the recovery room in the office! They claim I walked, but I dont believe it.

I'll be on T3's for a couple days after, as I have 3 different area's of my mouth being affected this time. Left lower, left upper and right lower. Chances are I wont be eating much for a few days...

I hate the dentist, but after this- I have 1 filling/rebuild left, and until this heals and I get my lower partial, I'm DONE except for cleanings...pending nothing breaks in the meantime!

Brandy

I'm so with you. I feel like a big baby, but i cannot have dental work without some kind of sedative. For wisdom teeth I had IV sedation--no memory whatsoever of that. For fillings, crowns and root canals my WONDERFUL DENTIST gives me a nerve block, Valium and nitrous oxide I am in la-la land for about 2hrs and I don't care if they do scientific experimentation on me! Luckily,my dentist is a trustworthy guy

 

[Geoff_M]

I had my two left wisdom teeth removed last Wednesday. They originally had me scheduled for IV sedation, but I wasn't too keen on all of the "baggage" mentioned on the medical waiver they have you sign beforehand. I had a fractured wisdom tooth removed about 4 years ago and they only used local and nitrous oxide on me. It literally was "over before I knew it". This time I asked if there was a reason they wanted to use IV instead of NOX on me again and they said "no". So I opted for the NOX since I had such good results last time, and again it was over in a jiffy with almost no sensation (what sensation there was was more like "pressure" instead of "pain"). I walked out of their office five minutes afterwards under my own power.

I'd try the NOX first... it's GOOD stuff. They told me that if it didn't "work" they could stop and use the IV instead.