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Experiences with IV sedation

O

Ogwen

Junior member
Joined
Sep 20, 2020
Messages
16
Location
Uk
Hi,
I just found out I am having surgical removal of about 6 teeth at my dental practice. As I am nervous they will be doing it under sedation via IV I think.

I just wondered if there were any risks to this? I know gas and air used to make me throw up and feel bad afterwards.

Is there any side effects with the IV? And with IV will they still need to use local anaesthetic?

I'm just really nervous! I have been waiting a long time for this and now I am worried. Think it'll happen around April or May
 
Hi, we’ve got a page with lots of info on IV sedation here:


You can also read about personal experiences of IV sedation here:


Have a read and see if these answer your concerns and questions ?
 
Hi there. I know there is lots of experiences on there, but if you feel you can’t find an answer to specific questions, I’m happy to try and answer it. I have had iv sedation at the dentist four times so maybe able to try and help.
 
Hey, would you mind telling me a bit about your experience with IV, please? Did you remember much about the procedure and for how long afterwards were you "out of it"?
 
Hi there. I know there is lots of experiences on there, but if you feel you can’t find an answer to specific questions, I’m happy to try and answer it. I have had iv sedation at the dentist four times so maybe able to try and help.

Do you feel groggy or anxious the rest of the day? Or did it make you feel ill? I've had the gas and air and I've been put off that because it made me feel sick the rest of the day.

Were you anxious before it? And what did it feel like when it started working.

And as TheTinyDancer asked were you aware of anything while you were on it?

Oh and did they give you as much local anaesthetic since you were under the influence of the IV, or was it less numbing?
 
Hi So in relation to did I remember much, literally not a lot. I just kind of remember the dentist talking to someone around me for a second, not what they were saying or anything though. Like just very brief snippets, I remember them talking to me at the end telling me to sort of ‘wake up’ as such. And briefly what I think was the orange light, I think the glasses and the curing light from a composite filling being set and them putting something in my mouth. None of it was ‘scary’ as such. As far as I know you have some awareness of what’s going on as, like you don’t think ahh what’s going on, or where am I in those moments.

In terms of how long I was out of it. I remember being sat in the chair at the end and the dentist talking to me, I remember saying my stuff was over there so I didn’t leave without it, being helped to walk to the car and going home. So I wasn’t that out of it. Talking to people who were with me there does seem to be bits like the part of the journey home I don’t remember and I went to sleep when I got home. I wouldn’t say it was as I was that groggy or sleepy. More just I didn’t sleep the night before worrying ? as I do. And they tell you to take it easy and I do fall asleep watching films on the sofa quite easily. I would say I was tired from the meds too though. So embrace the sleep if you can.

I personally didn’t feel sick at all with it. And I didn’t feel anxious the rest of the day but rather calm and chill and relief I had done it! I think I was advised though to not eat loads straight after, I was hungry as I had to fast before mine. They told me to build up eating slowly for the evening to prevent feeling sick but honestly I ate dinner and was fine ? (but I don’t recommend, follow any instructions they give). The only thing I had after was a slight headache I would say.

For the numbing I don’t know. I know I was numb when I ‘woke up’ but how much I was given I don’t have any clue or memory sorry ?

So the first time I had it, I watched her push the syringe, she asked me to shuffle back in the chair and that was it. I think I opened my eyes briefly as she was putting eye protection on me which made me jump ?. But then that was it. Second time felt a little bit swimmy for a few seconds. Not unpleasant. Third time was a really hot day and I felt it cold up my arm. The Last time, I remember the overwhelming urge to let my eyes rest slightly and to close them. But honestly didn’t realise it was the meds thought I just didn’t want to look but afterwards I think it was definitely the meds kicking in. ??

Hope this helps reassure you. If I missed any questions or you want to know more just let me know x
 
Sorry I think I missed the question about being anxious before. I think yes I was the first time. The fear of the unknown and how it would make me feel etc did worry me. I read a lot of the experience on here and about sedation as I find lots of knowledge about it helps me. I know some people prefer not to know though and that’s fine too. I think I was scared as it was a new dentist I was referred to, as mine didn’t do sedation, so I think that was my fear. And fear of the procedure. The other times knowing what would happen I felt better about it and opted to do it three more times haha so wasn’t bad.
 
Thank you @Molar_bear that sounds reassuring! That answered a lot of things I was worried about!
 
Do you feel groggy or anxious the rest of the day? Or did it make you feel ill? I've had the gas and air and I've been put off that because it made me feel sick the rest of the day.
Were you anxious before it? And what it it feel like when it started working.
And as TheTinyDancer asked were you aware of anything while you were on it?
Oh and did they give you as much local anasthetic since you were under the influence of the IV, or was it less numbing?

This is the dentist's POV, I've never had IV but I've administered thousands of doses (which is quite scary actually!). Some of this is from seeing things as I'm working, other bits are from talking to patients after their treatment...

Varies a lot from person to person, some sleep for a while, others don't.
You need to go straight home and do nothing the rest of the day, with somebody babysitting you to stop you doing anything silly. Don't go shopping, I've heard what happens when somebody does that... she bought a huge amount of crap and couldn't remember where she bought it from to return it later :) Another lady sent the taxi driver who took her home to buy her a large box of Crispy Cremes. Completely forgot she'd done it and got a fright when he turned up later with the donuts and a large bill :) No idea why their escorts didn't stop them in either case.

Which reminds me, please take a sensible person with you as your escort!

No it doesn't make you nauseous, quite the opposite in fact. (The gas and air was administered badly if it made you feel sick!)

Most people are kind of aware when they're under the IV, but they remember absolutely nothing about it afterwards, they just don't really care what's going on at the time, if you see what I mean.

You get roughly the same amount of local with the IV, although it tends to work a bit better due to less anxiety, this gives a slower heart beat, lower BP and doesn't "wash" the LA out of the area so quickly.
 
Thank you both @Molar_bear and @Gordon for the very detailed and informative replies! It's great to hear it from both viewpoints as a patient and dentist.
 
This is the dentist's POV, I've never had IV but I've administered thousands of doses (which is quite scary actually!). Some of this is from seeing things as I'm working, other bits are from talking to patients after their treatment...

Varies a lot from person to person, some sleep for a while, others don't.
You need to go straight home and do nothing the rest of the day, with somebody babysitting you to stop you doing anything silly. Don't go shopping, I've heard what happens when somebody does that... she bought a huge amount of crap and couldn't remember where she bought it from to return it later :) Another lady sent the taxi driver who took her home to buy her a large box of Crispy Cremes. Completely forgot she'd done it and got a fright when he turned up later with the donuts and a large bill :) No idea why their escorts didn't stop them in either case.

Which reminds me, please take a sensible person with you as your escort!

No it doesn't make you nauseous, quite the opposite in fact. (The gas and air was administered badly if it made you feel sick!)

Most people are kind of aware when they're under the IV, but they remember absolutely nothing about it afterwards, they just don't really care what's going on at the time, if you see what I mean.

You get roughly the same amount of local with the IV, although it tends to work a bit better due to less anxiety, this gives a slower heart beat, lower BP and doesn't "wash" the LA out of the area so quickly.

That's very reassuring, thanks Gordon. Though not the spending bit!

I may or may not be having my OH pick me up, depending if he gets the job hes after. Ill be in safe hands with him. Though if he does get the job it may have to be an in-law that will just pick me up and drop me off.

I know I will be very panicky when I get there. I have a bit of a phobia with needles too :(. Will that affect how the IV works? At least at first?

Ive had gas a couple of times, once when I was a kid to have baby teeth removed and another time before a general because they thought it would make me calmer. Both times I woke up with nausea
 
No, the IV will work the same whether you're panicking or not. It's possible to have a premed to make it a bit less stressful getting the IV started, you should discuss this with your dentist if it seems a good idea.
I wouldn't be happy about your escort dropping you off and picking you up, I've been caught out by disappearing escorts before, again better check this in advance.

You're comparing apples to oranges, IV is nothing like the gasses used in GA, it tends to suppress nausea for a start :)
 
Thanks again Gordon. It has helped ease my mind a bit.
If my OH can take me he will hang around until its all done and be waiting for me. I cant see my OHs parents doing the same though, but hopefully they will. But I'll make sure they will when I know the date for sure
 
Update us when it's all over, it's always good to hear from the patient's POV on here.
 
Hey there. Good luck for the appointment. As I said on here before my experience with iv was positive and honestly I was so panicked when I got there and it definitely still worked to calm me haha ?. I didn’t need to be as scared about going and getting the in started it was fine!

As Gordon said to in relation to the escort. One sedation clinic I went to wouldn’t let me escort leave at all. Not even to get his glasses from their car park ? once I was sedated. However, another place told him to get a coffee and called him when to come back ??‍♀️ I suppose covid May also effect the policy for escorts staying ?

Keep us updated how it goes. And we are hear to support or answer more questions
 
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I wouldn't be happy about your escort dropping you off and picking you up, I've been caught out by disappearing escorts before, again better check this in advance.

Sorry don’t mean to change the thread topic or take over here. Just kind of curious @Gordon. What did you do in that situation?!
 
Luckily I had a big clinic with plenty of spare assistants. Moved them into a different surgery with a nurse to watch them until they'd recovered a bit then went through their phone book till we got somebody else to come back for them :) I'd love to have heard the conversation with their escort the next day!
 
Luckily I had a big clinic with plenty of spare assistants. Moved them into a different surgery with a nurse to watch them until they'd recovered a bit then went through their phone book till we got somebody else to come back for them :) I'd love to have heard the conversation with their escort the next day!

Wow I would have loved to hear that too! I for one would not be happy with them ? or would not show my face at the clinic again from embarrassment

Thank you for answering!
 
I'm really nervous now! I've got the date for it, 27th May at 9am, so I will have to wake up at 4.30 am to have my breakfast:frantic:.

The advice you have given me is very helpful, so I'll know what to expect - the main problem is the unknown. But I'm starting to suffer panic attacks again now and then. Its probably just with this in the back of my mind. Once this is done I can relax again ?

I will update this once its all done and dusted!
 
Good luck with it and I look forward to hearing from you on how well it went. (Don't go buying expensive donuts afterwards :) )
 

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