Dentistry questions (Sedation specifically)

[destrekor]

Anyone here ever undergo sedation for dentistry procedures?

Yes, I know wisdom tooth extraction they knock you out. At least, I know OF that - I may be needing that myself, but aside from one question regarding that particularly, I am actually looking more at other sedation practices, where they may do two or three visits worth of work in one visit.


First up: wisdom tooth extraction.

Are you conscious at all? Or are you unconscious?

Is it a foggy state of consciousness where, at the end, you wouldn't even remember if they did unspeakable things to you, yet during the procedure you could scream and struggle?

(Not that I fear THAT - just, you know, for the imagery )


Now, for other sedation things.

One dentist in the area offers two types of sedation. (ignoring the straight nitrous oxide option, which would be a third - I hardly consider that sedation though)
One is "oral conscious" which apparently involves both nitrous oxide and "an anti-anxiety pill taken 1 hour prior"... and apparently you are conscious enough to do as directed (hmm), but will "not remember anything" once all is said and done (double hmmm).
Are anti-anxiety pills that effective that they knock out pain like that? I can still feel pain through a full shot of Novo/Lidocaine AND nitrous on top of that. So... yeah, I want the good stuff.

The other other is by IV, with an anesthesiologist performing the honors, in which they "deliver the medication" through that route. Not clear on the specific medication, and they don't say you are either conscious or unconscious.
Are you completely out of it, like a blank state of nothingness? Not answering questions, not even twitching a muscle?


I absolutely hate dentists, mainly because no matter what they have given me thus far in my life, the pain bleeds through unreal. I'm no wimp... perhaps I'm not the most extreme example of a manly man, but dammit if this were considered torture, and they were asking me pointed questions, I'm pretty sure I'd confess to the most ludicrous thing just to get that drill turned off. :shudders:

 

[DaveSimmons]

I've only been sedated for my wisdom teeth, and I had no memories of that procedure at all.

 

[CrackRabbit]

When I had my wisdom teeth taken out I went the IV route.
After they put the IV in I had enough time to ask the anesthesiologist; "Hey exactly how long does it take for this stuff to...? Oh..! OK, then.." and I was out until they woke me up after everything was done.

Only bad part was it made me really queasy once I woke back up.

 

[edro]

I was fully knocked out for my wisdom teeth.
All 4 were pulled. I went to work the next day.
I never felt any pain at all due to the pain pills.

My old roommate had 4 pulled while awake (some sort of local anesthetic).
He said it was horrible. They really have to pull and crunch on your jaw.
I would not want to be awake for that.
There is lots of blood too.

 

[wischeez]

3 shots of whiskey and you're good to go.

 

[destrekor]

3 shots of whiskey and you're good to go.

Should I bring a bullet upon which I shall bite, or is one provided?



Dentistry is archaic enough, thank you very much. I'd like to avoid returning to the dark ages, even if it's only for a day trip.


Shit... if going the alcohol route, I sure hope they mean to tell me "we're going to have to amputate above the neck line. Now, down the hatch then! See you on the other side, brother!"
Or I'll personally have the head of anyone even reaching for my mouth. :biggrin:

 

[KMFJD]

Woke up multiple times, more freezing, still woke up, more gas, still woke up

/to remove a post

 

[destrekor]

Woke up multiple times, more freezing, still woke up, more gas, still woke up

freezing?

 

[silverpig]

I had all 4 wisdom teeth out with local anaesthetic. I fully remember everything and it wasn't bad at all. Couldn't feel a thing, and I could have chewed through my cheek and bit my tongue in half if I wanted to and not felt it.

I had general anaesthesia via IV once. I saw the doc inject the stuff, remember laying there for about 4 seconds, and then woke up in the recovery room.

 

[xanis]

I've had quite a bit of dental work (including wisdom teeth removal) done in my short life. I definitely prefer general anesthesia; you go to sleep and wake up when it's over. What's not to like? I think I took the pain pills for ~2 days, skipped the anti-swelling meds, and I was perfectly fine.

 

[tcG]

I had general anesthesia for wisdom teeth and like others here, it was like going to sleep and then waking up with the surgery done.

 

[wischeez]

Should I bring a bullet upon which I shall bite, or is one provided?



Dentistry is archaic enough, thank you very much. I'd like to avoid returning to the dark ages, even if it's only for a day trip.


Shit... if going the alcohol route, I sure hope they mean to tell me "we're going to have to amputate above the neck line. Now, down the hatch then! See you on the other side, brother!"
Or I'll personally have the head of anyone even reaching for my mouth. :biggrin:

Bullet is optional. I prefer to have a big set of hooters in my face. Keeps your mind occupied. :sneaky:

 

[WoodButcher]

You don't need to be "put under" for dental work unless you want to. I had my last 22 teeth pulled at one time, 4 of which were impacted (infected) at the time.

 

[MayorOfAmerica]

I've had 4 wisdom teeth out, at seperate times, all just novacaine. All 4 were painless procedures, and the worst part about it was the shots and the anticipation of the procedure while the novacaine kicks in. 3 of them took less than 5 minutes while the other took about 15. There was some crunching involved with one of the top ones but it really was over in a flash. I was back to work the next say with all of them and had no pain following the procedure. I was also lucky he didn't have to break up any of the teeth to get them out. With that said, I'd probably opt for the knockout, in case any drilling is involved. Also, finding a good oral surgeon to do the procedure is key.

 

[OverVolt]

I was put out for my wisdom teeth, mine were impacted badly.

 

[jagec]

I definitely prefer general anesthesia; you go to sleep and wake up when it's over. What's not to like?

The fact that you don't always wake up, although the odds of that happening ARE low.

Still, I did my 4 wisdom teeth under local only. It was interesting to see how it gets done, and you don't feel any pain.

 

[destrekor]

I was put out for my wisdom teeth, mine were impacted badly.

This is both directed to you, and to others who had wisdom teeth removed:

For those who don't mention impacted, were the wisdom teeth completely erupted from the gum line, or were they completely hidden?
When is it defined as impacted, precisely, for wisdom teeth? It seems most common to remove them before they even breach the gums, which, by standard definition, seems to imply they are "impacted."

I can't remember if I all all four wisdom teeth, or if I only have two or three... or even just one.
I do know, maybe a year and a half or two years ago, decided to rise and say hello to the rest of the teeth. Thing is, it's a little scared of the others, as it's barely peeking out of the gumline. I remember soreness in that area for awhile, but it came and went and I've had similar soreness attributed to canker sores in similar spots or elsewhere. However, after the fact I know realize it was like "teething." Since that time, nothing has changed at all - no pain, no movement, not a thing.

It probably should come out, just in case it decides to go ahead and join the party - not sure if it's aligned properly or all askew, and no idea if the jawline has the room to act as hospitable host or if it will erase everything those other oral barbarians did to my mouth (orthodontists and their braces).

You don't need to be "put under" for dental work unless you want to. I had my last 22 teeth pulled at one time, 4 of which were impacted (infected) at the time.

come again?

 

[RossMAN]

Where is Mosh when you need her?

 

[MrRamon]

When I had my wisdom teeth pulled they just numbed my mouth. I didn't feel a thing except a whole lot of pressure and nasty sounds. I've also had 6+ hours of dental surgery done with a muscle relaxer and laughing gas. The pill and the gas combined is the real deal. I ended up passing out before they were done and woke up gripping the armrests and was freaking out because it appeared to me I was doing back flips in the chair and I thought I was going to fly off of it. lmao

 

[Ferzerp]

When I had my wisdom teeth removed, I woke up while they were moving the rubber piece to keep my mouth open from one side to the other. At least that's what I think it was. I felt nothing, but I did wake up during the procedure and was aware enough that I remembered it afterwards. However, I wasn't awake for long. They noticed and did something and I was out again.

 

[jagec]

When is it defined as impacted, precisely, for wisdom teeth? It seems most common to remove them before they even breach the gums, which, by standard definition, seems to imply they are "impacted."

I think that they don't really define it as "impacted" unless it WON'T properly breach the gums, eg, it's growing in sideways. But I'm no dentist.

Two of mine were coming in wrong, but they took 'em all anyway. And yes, none of them had breached the gums yet.

 

[tcG]

I think that they don't really define it as "impacted" unless it WON'T properly breach the gums, eg, it's growing in sideways. But I'm no dentist.

Two of mine were coming in wrong, but they took 'em all anyway. And yes, none of them had breached the gums yet.

I believe this is correct. People say theirs were impacted like it's some horrible thing but it's not - it just means the tooth hasn't erupted above the gumline.

 

[tcsenter]

Impacted = growing forward into the next teeth.

I had IV sedation (midazolam) with N2O and (obviously) local infiltration/nerve block. I was awake the entire time but didn't care much.

 

[Ichinisan]

Haven't read the thread. I was given the gas when I recently had wisdom teeth extracted. I was conscious and awake the whole time. Didn't feel anything though. The doc did ask some questions and I rambled a bit when I answered. Doc and assistant seemed stumped that the gas didn't put me to sleep.

 

[Blackjack200]

Impacted = growing forward into the next teeth.

I had IV sedation (midazolam) with N2O and (obviously) local infiltration/nerve block. I was awake the entire time but didn't care much.

That's probably what I had too. The oral surgeon gave me the choice of what he called "twilight zone" or full anesthesia. I'd had so many fillings at that point I figured I could handle it.

It was actually an interesting experience. I remember being right at the edge of sleep, dopey as all hell, and watching all these hands reaching into my mouth, I couldn't quite make out what they were saying to each other but at one point I realized they were breaking up one of the teeth by pounding on it with some kind of tool and it made a sound like a steel bar hitting a rock. I actually remember thinking "wow, I'd be pretty freaked out by that if I wasn't so drugged up".