ChatterBank8 mins ago
Hospital Dental Work
19 Answers
I have an irrational fear of dentists and need 3 teeth that have broken and are extremely painful removing.
I would like to have the work done under general anaesthetic but feel that it would be better to have this done in hospital rather than at a dentist.
How would I go about arranging for this to be done?
I do not have an NHS dentist at the moment and had to see an emergency one to have the check up done which established the need for the extractions
Thank you in advance
I would like to have the work done under general anaesthetic but feel that it would be better to have this done in hospital rather than at a dentist.
How would I go about arranging for this to be done?
I do not have an NHS dentist at the moment and had to see an emergency one to have the check up done which established the need for the extractions
Thank you in advance
Answers
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Don't mean to put you off, but my brother is terrified of the dentist and tried sedation about four years ago. Didn't work for him, i'm afraid, and he won't go near another dentist now even though his teeth are rotten. He wanted a general anaesthetic at the time but we couldn't find anyone who would do it. They told him sedation would be adequate. Would be very interested if anyone knew how you can get a general anesthetic 'cos it's the only way my brother will get his teeth seen to.
fair enough, rainbow but I can say I've had sedation and it was great. I used to be terrified of dentists... but I just got over it, which may be good news for you. I was basically going to one who was uncommunicative and not much concerned with how I felt; I changed to one who's cheery, chatty and very gentle. They do exist! And I don't need sedation any more, just ordinary injections, which I used to loathe and now don't worry me.
Can I just say to you all, that I have sedation all the time - and it actually puts me right out. It's by far the best way to undergo any treatment, and you feel fine afterwards.
Shiznit - maybe if you go back to that emergency dentist, he or she'll be able to refer you to the hospital. Failing that, you could try and register with a local dentist, have another check up - and be referred from there, but if you need mergency treatment, then perhaps you could check directly with the hospital, and see what they have to say? Best of luck.
Shiznit - maybe if you go back to that emergency dentist, he or she'll be able to refer you to the hospital. Failing that, you could try and register with a local dentist, have another check up - and be referred from there, but if you need mergency treatment, then perhaps you could check directly with the hospital, and see what they have to say? Best of luck.
depending on where you live, sedation is not available on the NHS. You cannot tell/demand the dentist how to deal with your problem (ie at the surgery or via the hospital) If it is a problem that could reasonably be done under local anasethetic then that's what the NHS will offer you. It wont offer you the much more expensive option of having it done in a hospital.
Anyway, your first port of call is to register yourself with an NHS dentist and take it from there. If you can't find one yourself, a call to your local PCT will tell yu where your nearest one is
Anyway, your first port of call is to register yourself with an NHS dentist and take it from there. If you can't find one yourself, a call to your local PCT will tell yu where your nearest one is
I read somewhere that if you are prepared to have work done by dental students (you would need to contact a University with dentistry students) you can often be accepted to have work done cheaper or even free (NHS extractions aren't free unless you're on benefits). Of course, they have qualified dentists to oversee any work done but it might be the only way you can do this without first registering with a Dentist (you cannot refer yourself to hospital for dental work). Registering with an NHS dentist may not be a possibility (lack of) and you would probably have to pay in the region of �60-�70 just for a consultation to register with a private dentist - who then may and talk you out of having an extraction under general at a hospital, because he/she wouldn't make any money from it.
Go through the phone book and ring some Uni's.
Go through the phone book and ring some Uni's.
First of all you will need to register with a dentist whether that is within the NHS or on a private basis. In theory your Primary Care Trust should give you the details of an NHS dentist in your area. It is more than likely that you will need other treatment besides the extractions. There are kind and considerate dentists out there -- have you tried getting word of mouth good reports from friends and neighbours ? You can then be referred to a local clinic specialising in surgery which can be done under sedation, or to your local hospital's oral surgery or maxillofacial department where you can be admitted (as a day case if necessary) to have the extractions done. Good luck.
The obvious has already been said - you need to get an NHS or private dentist to refer you to the hospital in the first place.
Beyond that, I can only tell you that I had some dental work done in the hospital a few years ago, under a local. My treatment was called an apisectomy whereby the very root of my tooth had to be drilled out and filled via direct access through the gum, and required a couple of stitches afterwards. It was absolutely painless, beyond the sting of the first couple of shots of anaesthetic into my gum. They put several shots in, in various places and all I could feel was a bit of pushing around in my mouth.
For an extraction, though, I'm not so sure. I've only ever had one done under local, and tooth broke as it was pulled and the whole process was very painful (even though the dentist kept saying it wasn't hurting me - how would he know?), so I've only ever had extractions under sedation since then (well, just one, but that was enough). I say sedation - it was the white stuff injected into my hand that knocked me out for the few minutes it took to remove the tooth, and was in addition to local anaesthetic. That the same thing?
Beyond that, I can only tell you that I had some dental work done in the hospital a few years ago, under a local. My treatment was called an apisectomy whereby the very root of my tooth had to be drilled out and filled via direct access through the gum, and required a couple of stitches afterwards. It was absolutely painless, beyond the sting of the first couple of shots of anaesthetic into my gum. They put several shots in, in various places and all I could feel was a bit of pushing around in my mouth.
For an extraction, though, I'm not so sure. I've only ever had one done under local, and tooth broke as it was pulled and the whole process was very painful (even though the dentist kept saying it wasn't hurting me - how would he know?), so I've only ever had extractions under sedation since then (well, just one, but that was enough). I say sedation - it was the white stuff injected into my hand that knocked me out for the few minutes it took to remove the tooth, and was in addition to local anaesthetic. That the same thing?
im terrifyed of the dentist and recently, in total, i got ten teeth taken out with ordinary injections. Just try closing your eyes and taking a deep breath (also when i went, i had to squeeze the assistants hand so i wouldn't pass on taking something to squeeze such as one of the stress balls or something)
I�ve had both good and bad experiences of dentistry.
In the 1980s I had several treatments done with an injection (I think it was valium). That knocks you out completely, but I don�t believe it was considered to be
particularly safe, and I�m not sure if it�s done any more these days. I wasn�t entirely happy about it at the time, even.
I once had about 6 teeth extracted at a hospital, which was not at all pleasant, and I wouldn�t recommend it.
I now have a very good dentist, fortunately, but it�s private treatment and a bit expensive. I don�t worry about going, even for extractions, except when it comes to paying the bill!
I�ve been to NHS dentists in the past, and some of them were OK.
In the 1980s I had several treatments done with an injection (I think it was valium). That knocks you out completely, but I don�t believe it was considered to be
particularly safe, and I�m not sure if it�s done any more these days. I wasn�t entirely happy about it at the time, even.
I once had about 6 teeth extracted at a hospital, which was not at all pleasant, and I wouldn�t recommend it.
I now have a very good dentist, fortunately, but it�s private treatment and a bit expensive. I don�t worry about going, even for extractions, except when it comes to paying the bill!
I�ve been to NHS dentists in the past, and some of them were OK.
I agree with jno. Go for sedation. I am not scared of dentists but have a phobia about injections in the mouth. I have been sedated at 2 different dental surgeries and it is wonderful. You are not 'out' exactly but you sort of float and all your worries disappear. I thought I would fight it and it wouldnt work but it does work - this lovely feeling comes over you and there is absolutely no pain. Good luck.
Just to add, I think you have to pay for any sedation these days, unless done via the hospital. Mine costs me �90 a time, on top of whatever needs doing - but it's worth every penny - and I DO go completely out. It entails a painless shot int he arm, and then when you wake up, it's all over and done with.
Note that whilst the risk is small, healthy adults die as a result of having a GA (for any procedure).
Unless referring to an academic institution/dental teaching hospital (attached to a university of which there are few) there really aren't many 'true hospital' dentists able to carry out routine restorative dentistry under GA.
It is illegal to carry out GA in general dental practice (and even if it was not, would require a consultant anaesthetist v. v. v. expensive!!!)
When people refer to 'hospital dentists' they usually mean oral surgery staff working in oral and maxillofacial units who have dental degrees (the consultants in these units usually have a medical degree also and are NOT therefore dentists)
(The oral/dental surgery component of this profession may in some cases account for a large volume of the work carried out in these units but represents a tiny fraction of the scope of the speciality which involves ALL conditions affecting the head, neck, face and jaws).
You need to be under the care of a general dental practioner either private or NHS (or a patient at a dental hospital) who could then refer you for treatment in a oral & maxillofacial unit under general anaesthetic (but only for oral surgery i.e in your case extractions)
Rarely other forms of treatment besides oral surgery can be carried out under GA however this does require a 'true hospital dentist' and there aren't many of those.
Most areas in the UK have a community dental service or a centre offering sedation w hich can be helpful in some cases and this means that you can have 'dental treatment' as well as extractions whilst not fully awake (however sedation is not appropriate for everyone)
Some community dentists work on a sessional basis in hopsital and therefore sometimes are able to provide treatment other than extractions under GA.
Unless referring to an academic institution/dental teaching hospital (attached to a university of which there are few) there really aren't many 'true hospital' dentists able to carry out routine restorative dentistry under GA.
It is illegal to carry out GA in general dental practice (and even if it was not, would require a consultant anaesthetist v. v. v. expensive!!!)
When people refer to 'hospital dentists' they usually mean oral surgery staff working in oral and maxillofacial units who have dental degrees (the consultants in these units usually have a medical degree also and are NOT therefore dentists)
(The oral/dental surgery component of this profession may in some cases account for a large volume of the work carried out in these units but represents a tiny fraction of the scope of the speciality which involves ALL conditions affecting the head, neck, face and jaws).
You need to be under the care of a general dental practioner either private or NHS (or a patient at a dental hospital) who could then refer you for treatment in a oral & maxillofacial unit under general anaesthetic (but only for oral surgery i.e in your case extractions)
Rarely other forms of treatment besides oral surgery can be carried out under GA however this does require a 'true hospital dentist' and there aren't many of those.
Most areas in the UK have a community dental service or a centre offering sedation w hich can be helpful in some cases and this means that you can have 'dental treatment' as well as extractions whilst not fully awake (however sedation is not appropriate for everyone)
Some community dentists work on a sessional basis in hopsital and therefore sometimes are able to provide treatment other than extractions under GA.
Just in case anyone is unnessarily worried IceMaiden does NOT 'go completely out' as this would be very dangerous and potentially lethal.
What she actually means is that as a result of the amnesic effect of the drug used she has the 'perception' of having been 'completely out'. (Clearly if you can't remember, its 'like' being 'completely out' but not the same thing).
Which is one of the benefits of 'consciouss sedation' (to give it the correct UK definition) and why its is safer than GA and therefore legal in general dental practice.
If you are not awake then you are under GA and as I've stated above this is illegal in general dental practice.
What she actually means is that as a result of the amnesic effect of the drug used she has the 'perception' of having been 'completely out'. (Clearly if you can't remember, its 'like' being 'completely out' but not the same thing).
Which is one of the benefits of 'consciouss sedation' (to give it the correct UK definition) and why its is safer than GA and therefore legal in general dental practice.
If you are not awake then you are under GA and as I've stated above this is illegal in general dental practice.
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