Dentist - IV Sedation....HELP!!

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

My mom just called in a dentist's appointment for early February. I'm sooo freaking out. The past 2 years I've visited at least 5 different dentists, and only one time each because I'm so afraid, and they'd refer me to someone else, or I just was not comfortable with them. One pediatric dentist called me a "nutcase." And not joking neither!

Anyway, this dentist I'll be going gives IV sedation. Has anyone ever done this before?? I have been given morphene through an IV to knock me out when I dislocated my elbow just over a year ago...but safe it say...it didn't knock me out at ALL...they even gave me a bit extra...but still, I felt everything...I remember everything. Does IV Sedation work? Do you feel any pain...even if you don't realize what it is? How long does it take to get knocked out?

Please help ease my mind. I'm TOTALLY freaking out...seriously...you heard what the one dentist said...I'm a nutcase!!!

TIA

 

[damo]

I had IV sedation to get my wisdom teeth out. I was completely out. Is that what they are planning? You start counting backward from 100. You get to about 97 and then when you wake up you are all done. You feel groggy for a while and need to stay at the office for an hour or so. Then someone takes you home. Have you tried the laughing gas sedation?

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Nope, I haven't tried any sedation at all. Not even the laughing gas. For me, this appointment is for the whole nine yards...removing teeth, filling cavities, basic cleaning...I am THAT afraid.

I'm afraid I'll feel sick. I had a bad reaction after getting all the morphere...wasn't pleasant...

but you figure it will knock me out, even though Morphene didn't work for me? I have no clue what they use at the dentist office though.

 

[Lewski709]

Me too, had impacted wisdom teeth and they knocked me out. It was awesome....totally OUT.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Count me as one of the Morphine doesn't work crew. However, I doubt the dentist would try that. Morphine is not a sedative as much as a pain killer, a sedative will put you to sleep. You will definately be out. While morphine may make a lot of people sleepy, it isn't the same as being "out"

I hope you can get over your fear of the dentist, but if you can't at least being out will allow your teeth to be worked on.

Good luck Sweetie. Let us know how you do.

 

[Kimberle]

humm, when I had my wisdom teeth out, my surgen used what was called "twilight sleep". I don't remember how he administered it. I think it might have been with a "mask". I fell into a "sleep" pretty quickly. I awoke almost immediately after he was done. I remember asking him when he was going to start as I didn't feel groggy or sleepy. He said "I'm done".

Good luck! I hate dentists too. I remember my child dentist (no pedi's back then) filling my teeth w/ no novicane...... Can you say "pry me off the cealing".......

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Thanks everyone! This helps me feel a bit more easy about it. Still nervous, but at least I've heard good outcomes from it.

mickeyfan - when the nurse gave me the morphine, she told me I'd go to "sleep" and that I wouldn't feel anything, and that I would say things without thinking or knowing, and that I wouldn't remember a thing when I awoke. So I guess the nurse just wasn't very accurate at all.

 

[MScott1851]

You'll probably be getting what is called "conscious sedation." Also.. I seriously doubt you'll get Morphine alone. Usually, doctors give a drug called Versed in conjunction with it, and that is what causes you not to remember. The morphine is for pain alone. If you are afraid that the Morphine will make you sick, ask for some Phenergan or Reglan to go with it. These are for nausea.

In a long shot, the dentist might use Ketamine, but I doubt it. Morphine and Versed are the usual cocktail to sedate...

Don't worry... I'm a nutcase too. I refuse to have any cavities filled or crowns put on without the nitrous oxide!

 

[lsyorke]

"You'll probably be getting what is called "conscious sedation."

Conscious sedation is used in alot of procedures ie: colonoscopy, cardiac catheterizations. Versed is usually the drug of choice as the main ingredient, with one of the narcotics ie Demerol.

Versed is an amazing drug, You'll remember nothing!!!! I have had very few patients complain about getting nauseous with Versed. Try and relax and just think with the sedation you can get alot more done at one time!!!

 

[HoneyPooh]

In our office we use versed and ketamine and you are in what we call a "twilight". If the doctor should ask you to open wide, you will, but afterward you won't remember it. Ours is administered by IV and it takes only a few moments for you to be "out". Our patients usually only wake up feeling sick if they have not followed the directions about eating or drinking (last time it was a patient who VERY obviously had a glass of OJ before he came in, even though he denied it). Please don't do that, it's very dangerous. Follow all the instructions you are given and you'll be just fine. Most of our patients tell us later how they would have done it sooner if they had known how easy it would be.

 

[Snoozan]

I recently had a colonoscopy so had the conscious sedation. My nurse told me it's the Demerol that usually make people nauseous, but my gastro uses a synthetic form of Demerol which very rarely makes someone nauseous. I have to admit, it was great not being nauseous afterwards as that's my biggest fear of any type of anesthesia.

I would suggest asking if Demoral is going to be used and request something else as being nauseous is a problem for you.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

another dental chicken here

I had major oral surgery year before last but it was postposted till Winter Break.I had to be knocked out but can't remember the drugs but no popcorn for 3 months was the hard part

 

[Chattyaholic]

I didn't know you could have IV sedation in a dentist's office!!! Wow!! That would be GREAT!!! I have not gone to the dentist in several years I'm ashamed to say. My former dentist retired and I just never made an appointment to go to the new one, then I had a problem tooth and went to have it checked out. He said I would need a crown, but at the time we had no insurance to pay for it so I decided to wait until we did. Well, then I had some back problems and medical bills to pay for THAT, then our DD got married and we had bills for THAT, now this past spring I had thyroid surgery AND pulmonary embolism in the fall...still paying on all THOSE bills....but I know I need to go to the dentist....I just hope mine will put me out while he fixes everything....I have always said I prefer childbirth (had two children with no pain medication at all) over sitting in the dentist's chair!!