Nitrous Oxide in dentist's office?

[Muse]

Tomorrow I'm going to see a dentist who specializes in periodontics. He was recommended by my dentist to address an uncommon condition called "external root resorption." I had my consultation yesterday, and tomorrow he will operate. There's basically a cavity below the gumline that isn't the result of an attack by bacteria, but is caused by cells in my own body. The cause of this kind of thing isn't well understood. It's believed to be caused by several different things. One possibility is trauma.

Anyway, this is supposed to take around 1 1/2 hours. They will give me local anesthesia. Optionally, I could be given more aggressive anesthesia, but I'd need transportation home. I don't want to go that route. They figured to give me nitrous oxide, though. That's an extra $95, and I'm wondering if I should bother with that. My own dentist never gives me nitrous oxide. I'm thinking of just asking for the local anesthetic. Their reaction (the attendant) was that it's just 1 1/2 hour, so that would be no big deal.

I plan to ride my bicycle both ways, figure the nitrous wouldn't help that and that as long as I wasn't in pain, why bother? I can maintain my cool for 1 1/2 hours...

The cavity is below the gumline, so the doctor will need to cut the gum away, do the filling and then apply stitches. I'll have tylenol with codeine, 30 mg, and will use an antibiotic for a week and then come back to have the stitches out.

What do you think?

 

[Homerboy]

I had 4 wisdom teeth pulled with nothing but local.
Nowadays they suggestion NO2 when you get damned filling.

 

[Ferzerp]

The gas is nice. It isn't a strong effect, but it dulls your awareness somewhat and elevates your mood enough to where the experience is neutral instead of unpleasant. I take it for any work that isn't cleaning.

It's safe in that environment as the dosage is metered and you're being monitored, so why not make the experience less unpleasant?

 

[waggy]

as ferzerp said it's nice but not needed. I get it most of the time. Though I'm charged $30.

$90 seems pretty high to me.

 

[Ruptga]

I'd take it without even thinking about it. If you're unsure of your balance as you go out the door just walk your bike until it wears off.

 

[Imp]

I had 4 wisdom teeth pulled with nothing but local.
Nowadays they suggestion NO2 when you get damned filling.

I got everything... Localized needles and gas. Bit the nurse when I was drunk as shit.

 

[notposting]

Guess it all depends on the price with/without insurance, and how you end up feeling. Our 2-year old just had some yesterday for about a 10 minute filling fix. 90 minutes might be a long time to keep your cool also.

Betting the cost creeps up as it gets longer due to monitoring - they might want to have you breathe some clean air through the mask afterward also to ensure your system is clear.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I'm pretty sure the NO2 is for the drills. It makes them go faster.

 

[lxskllr]

Never had it at the dentist
<.<
>.>

 

[Muse]

Thanks for the answers, I'll check back later for more.

I'm off to get my Rx meds now. I have no dental coverage. I'm going to Kaiser hospital to get my meds, my coverage is with them and I think I'll get discounted meds from them, it's Medicare part D drug coverage.

I figure $95 is steep. I'll ask them if I can listen to music using my cell phone and ear buds. I'll have some music that should keep me calm enough, Bach's Well Tempered Clavier, Wanda Landowska on the harpsichord. Have Glenn Gould doing it too.

 

[John Connor]

I never use gas. Just stick the damn shot in there and numb me up. Works for me. Only problem is that your mouth feels like it has cotton in it for at least an hour and a half or better. I'd rather not do gas because I want to be conscious and alert. I mean what if something were to happen? In your neck of the woods that could be an earthquake. I know that sounds far fetched, but you never know.

My dad had gas and he was out of it. You won't be able to ride your bike. Or at least you shouldn't if you don't want your skull smashed under tire.

I had a damn root canal last year and now I have to get another. This is the same tooth he refilled! It's nerves so I need a root canal.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I did gas for my two wisdom teeth procedures (didn't have enough money to do them all at once). First time didn't really need it but it helped ease myself. Second time thank god I had it since my tooth was stuck and it took the doc like 20 minutes to pull that fucker out.

 

[Muse]

I never use gas. Just stick the damn shot in there and numb me up. Works for me. Only problem is that your mouth feels like it has cotton in it for at least an hour and a half or better. I'd rather not do gas because I want to be conscious and alert. I mean what if something were to happen? In your neck of the woods that could be an earthquake. I know that sounds far fetched, but you never know.

My dad had gas and he was out of it. You won't be able to ride your bike. Or at least you shouldn't if you don't want your skull smashed under tire.

I had a damn root canal last year and now I have to get another. This is the same tooth he refilled! It's nerves so I need a root canal.

Thanks for the candor and experienced and nuanced reply. Yes, this is earthquake country, and that office is about 1/2 mile from the Hayward fault!

I had one root canal. I don't remember it being nasty in any way. Don't remember if they gave me nitrous, but I kind of doubt it. Afterwards I had pain pills but don't remember feeling much need to take them. I may not have taken them. I have a bunch of vicodin in the fridge, I never reach for them, but I did take one a few weeks ago one Saturday when out of nowhere my wrist started killing me. In a few hours it was OK.

This tooth may need a root canal down the line, as early as 6 months the dentist told me. Totally depends on what goes on. He may even find tomorrow that the cavity reaches all the way to the nerve. In that case I'll need a root canal on that tooth now and I'll have to go to a different specialist, maybe the same guy who did my other one around 10 years ago.

I looked on one of my MP3 players, I have a 3+ hour recording of an all Ornette Coleman broadcast done by New York radio station WKCR FM, a few days after Coleman's death last June. That should work well in the office, assuming they are OK with my having those earbuds on. Man, I must have around a dozen or more of those broadcasts, I snagged as many as I could! They played nothing but Ornette Coleman recordings 24/7 for at least a week!

 

[balloonshark]

Every time I had a filling or got teeth pulled before I was 18 they gave me NOS. It kinda puts you in another world. It helped keep me calmer during the procedure. I used to imagine the mask was a big black bat flying at me and I remember flashing lights around it. The radio in the background was weird and I would be so out of it the dentist would have to open his mouth to get me to open mine. I guess it helps take you to a happy place. That's the best way I can describe it.

 

[Ruptga]

Every time I had a filling or got teeth pulled before I was 18 they gave me NOS. It kinda puts you in another world. It helped keep me calmer during the procedure. I used to imagine the mask was a big black bat flying at me and I remember flashing lights around it. The radio in the background was weird and I would be so out of it the dentist would have to open his mouth to get me to open mine. I guess it helps take you to a happy place. That's the best way I can describe it.

My last experience with the stuff was like 20 years ago, all I remember was flying, a lot. I'm sure it affects different people differently. It does put you into another world though, maybe you just had a bad trip. :biggrin:

 

[Red Squirrel]

I remember as a little kid being put out for a whole bunch of fillings, but I remember it was weird as I was just having small talk conversation with the dentist, basically the typical stuff a dentist would maybe ask a kid like what school do you go to, what's your favourite subject etc... Then I remember him just saying he was done, and I was so confused because I did not even think it started yet.

If it was an option now for fillings I'd totally do it, I always hate going through that. It's not so much that it's painful, it's the anticipation that it MIGHT be painful and it's just overall uncomfortable. Though every now and then they might hit a nerve that is not quite frozen and it does in fact hurt. I've had it happen where they had to refreeze me. If going under was an option I'd totally take it. I mean, I suppose I could ask, but it would probably be considered a non standard thing to do.

But to think that before anaesthesia they pretty much did proceedures without. Maybe get a bottle of vodka.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I had 4 wisdom teeth pulled with nothing but local.
Nowadays they suggestion NO2 when you get damned filling.

I didn`t even have local! They just pulled my wisdom teeth! Way too many sissies on these forums! Man up guys!

 

[Ferzerp]

I guess some of you guys are lightweights. Even with the mix as high as they can set it, it just relaxes me a bit. Of course, I also have to have about twice the lidocaine too which sucks because of the epinephrine portion of it.

 

[balloonshark]

My last experience with the stuff was like 20 years ago, all I remember was flying, a lot. I'm sure it affects different people differently. It does put you into another world though, maybe you just had a bad trip. :biggrin:

It was well over 20 years ago for me. I was also flying backwards away from the bat (mask). It wasn't scary despite the bat having an evil face. I guess I was too stoned and was enjoying the ride.

I've also tried whip-its once or twice during a trip back from a monster truck show. It's a briefer but much more intense experience.

 

[Rakehellion]

Just get the local. Sometime I don't even use that.

 

[sourceninja]

...

 

[GasX]

An hour plus of N2O and you shouldn't be riding that bike.

 

[Chocu1a]

Get the gas. I am super sensitive in my teeth. I ask for it every time. I don't care the cost. Gas me the fuck out. I don't give a damn what happens after that.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Random fact: us redheads are apparently more resilient to anaesthetic. Need to dial it up a notch to put us out.

 

[John Connor]

Thanks for the candor and experienced and nuanced reply. Yes, this is earthquake country, and that office is about 1/2 mile from the Hayward fault!

I had one root canal. I don't remember it being nasty in any way. Don't remember if they gave me nitrous, but I kind of doubt it. Afterwards I had pain pills but don't remember feeling much need to take them. I may not have taken them. I have a bunch of vicodin in the fridge, I never reach for them, but I did take one a few weeks ago one Saturday when out of nowhere my wrist started killing me. In a few hours it was OK.

This tooth may need a root canal down the line, as early as 6 months the dentist told me. Totally depends on what goes on. He may even find tomorrow that the cavity reaches all the way to the nerve. In that case I'll need a root canal on that tooth now and I'll have to go to a different specialist, maybe the same guy who did my other one around 10 years ago.

I looked on one of my MP3 players, I have a 3+ hour recording of an all Ornette Coleman broadcast done by New York radio station WKCR FM, a few days after Coleman's death last June. That should work well in the office, assuming they are OK with my having those earbuds on. Man, I must have around a dozen or more of those broadcasts, I snagged as many as I could! They played nothing but Ornette Coleman recordings 24/7 for at least a week!

Keep in mind a root canal will need a crown, so there's your next expense. Without a crown the tooth can crack. Then you would have waisted money on the damn root canal.

Keep that vicodin in check. I've heard you can be addicted to it just like a lot of pain meds. For me, vicodin makes me sick. I don't use it. Right now I have a bottle of Norco I was prescribed due to an ulcer. And they prescribed me pills of which I can't remember their name to ease any nausa from the Norco. I only had to take it once while in the ER. It seemed to work, because that rancid stabbing pain in my stomach went away. That-was-a-BITCH! Pain pisses me off. I couldn't sleep and my day was fucked to shit with that garbage. Ain't nobody got time for that.