Dental sedation for root canal treatment

[loggy01]

I am having a panic as I am having root canal treatment under IV sedation on Thursday because of a fear of the dentist. I would willingly go through childbirth three times than go to a dentist!! I am now worried of feeling pain, losing control and my biggest fear is sickness as I am very sick with general anesthetic!! Please help reassure me!!

[dmj]

I had sedation for the removal of 2 wisdom teeth and I can honestly say it was brilliant, I wouldnt hesitate to have this again if I needed to,

Firstly you are given an injection to relax you, they ask you to count to ten as with a general but you dont go to sleep, you just feel very very relaxed you can hear whats going on around you but your off in lala land! :) you wont feel the injection or any pain, you may feel some tugging but it doesnt hurt and the dentist normally talks to you throughout the proceedure, I was as petrified as you are but it really is ok, after they've done it you might have a little sleep and then they send you home, you have to have someone to drive you home and after you've had the treatment just go home and sleep because you cant remember anything for a few hours after, so dont go writing any cheques or making rash purchases! :)

I have given birth twice and out of the two experiences give me dental sedation anytime!! Good luck xx

[jno]

I agree. You don't feel pain, you don't lose control and it doesn't make you sick as it isn't full general anesthetic. On the whole, sooner a dentist than childbirth for me!

[loggy01]

You have both put my mind at rest - or as much as it ever will be!! Can you hear the drill etc, or is it that you are just out of it and just dont care!!

[Jugglering]

You won't feel a thing during the root canal treatment. You'll have a little injection beforehand (and it will only feel like a little pin prick or tiny scratch) for the sedation and to numb your tooth. The sedative will make you feel really calm and relaxed and at peace with the world - it's great stuff lol.... You probably will hear the drill but why not do what I do and take your some headphones with you (with lovely happy music on) but remember not to start dancing ! Your tooth cavity will then be filled with some antibiotics/disinfectants and a dressing put in it. You will probably have to go back a week or so later to have the dressing removed (totally painfree, cos the root canal treatment will have removed the nerve in the tooth) and a proper filling put in. Hey presto... new tooth ! (I've had this done three times now and my dentist has restored my faith in teethdoctors lol, she is great at dealing with us *nervous sort*)

[loggy01]

Thanks for that. I have had a dressing and temporary filling in for three weeks, so assume he will put in the proper filling. The funny thing is I haven't been in any pain at all with it although the x-ray shows up a lot of decay.

[Jugglering]

Maybe the nerve has already died then, which is why you don't feel any pain. It does sound like you will be having a proper filling on Thursday - all the dentist will do is remove the dressing (it will only take a couple of seconds), have a little clean up to remove any dead tissue etc and if all looks good, give you a new filling. You may not even need to be *numbed* for this, which is great. Given you are on the last stage of the treatment, do you really need the sedation ? The whole thing should only take a few minutes.

[corylus]

I've had root canal t/ment twice, first time I thought I was just going to the dentist for an impression, then he started drilling! I survived that but when I had to go AGAIN for root canal t/ment on another tooth, (after delaying this for MONTHS) I took a valium tablet before the t/ment, flew into the dentist, told him to get on with it, never felt a thing and left the surgery as if nothing had happened. You'll be OK

[loggy01]

Yes, I think I need the sedation unfortunately. The dentist said he couldnt guarantee it would not hurt. Last time I had the maximum amount of local but I still jumped through the roof every time he hit a nerve to put the temporary filling in. Just wish it was all over with. Cant remember where my fear of dentists comes from but I am just rigid on the table and have already cancelled three times! I do however value my teeth.

[Jugglering]

As all the others have said, you'll be fine ! It sounds like you have a great dentist now and I hope he has restored your faith in them - good for you for valuing your teeth !

All the best - let us know how you get on !

[FoxLee2]

My experience of sedation was slightly different. I had two teeth out prior to going the implant route. It was a prick in the back of the hand and as far as I was concerned, I was asleep. I had two or three memories - a babble of confusing voices, a pain in my left arm which went and then came back (I realized afterwards the nurse had been on that side doing the suction and had presumably leaned heavily against me) and momentarily feeling something clamp onto a tooth. I must have responded to things like 'open your mouth' or 'turn your head this way' but I have no knowledge of hearing anything. When I was woken, I felt very tired and kept 'going back to sleep' while the anaeasthetist was clearing up. It was such a brilliant experience that I had it again for the actual implants. This was a longer period of sedation but again I only have a couple of fleeting memories. The only pain came from the bill for the sedation as it was all private done in Harley Street.

[loggy01]

I know all about the pain of the price!! I am covered by Denplan which we pay monthly for. My dentist has recommended me to another clinic which does sedation, because although my regular dentist could do the work, he would not guarantee it being a pain free experience. The root canal alone is costing �400.00 for which I cant claim back from Denplan for!!. These private dental schemes seem to wriggle out of paying when it suits them. The private dentist also seemed to see pound notes signs by suggesting I have other work done such as whitening, straightening and a wisdom tooth removed. �400 is enough to pay for a root canal without any more bills!!

[Jugglering]

That is awful Loggy... I am also on Denplan and I am covered (�12 per month) for root canal treatment.. plus I have a check up every six months and see the hygienist every three months (so �12/pcm for all that plus any other work - like root canal treatment, fillings etc) seems fair to me. I am actually in the middle of some rct right now - will have my final filling next Thursday - all at no extra cost either.

[loggy01]

I think the reason they wont pay is that the dentist has said he can do the work there but cant guarantee a pain free time so I asked to be referred and sedated. My own fault for being such a bagy!

[loggy01]

sorry should have said "baby"! I am not at all "bagy"!

[Jugglering]

LOL - you Bagy you !!!!

Loggy has just invented a new word folks !

Now all we have to do is work out how to pronounce it correctly.... should it be like bagel but with a *y* or like baggy..... hehe

PS Babies have no inhibition about pain, it's only as we get older that we start to get frightened by it. You are definitely not a baby - just trying to preserve yourself - hence the instinct kicking in.

I still reckon you will be fine next Thursday (bagy or babbie lol)

[loggy01]

Had my dental sedation treatment this morning. It was great. I was so nervous beforehand but they talked me through everything and I was given a sedation drug, cant remember the name of it but I think it began with an "M". They also put like a sleeping mask of the type you are given on aeroplanes on my eyes. The time just seemed to go quickly and I felt no pain, but it was strange because I was aware of everything, noises, talking etc. I did not say anything embarassing as I had a clamp in my mouth, but I could hear the dentist talking quite clearly. My appointment was at 10.00a.m. and I was home by 11.30a.m. All I can feel tonight is a strange anesthetic or dental taste in my mouth. I fancy a nice hot curry to kill the taste!! Thank you all for your replies. I thought I would let you know how it went.

[bigmamma]

Hello loggy , I came back to your thread to post asking how you got on , and I'm delighted you have left an update . I am pleased for you that it all went well :-) xxx

[avantika1385]

can u pls suggest some places where i can perform root canal on sedation..?

[avantika1385]

i am in singapore..n its getting vry difficult to find dentist who provides sedatives..pls help