Experiences with oral sedation?

[Guest]

I was wondering if someone could share their experience with oral sedation- how it felt, what they had done while under it, any memories of the procedures, the last thing you remember, etc. The office I'm talking to tells me they use Triazolam. I'm having a hard time understanding that I'll be out of it, but still responsive and functional. I have a fear that I'll still be afraid and experience everything with clarity, but just may not remember it afterwards. This, you understand, would be a small comfort.

 

[Guest]

I've had Triazolam, and it's the best stuff on earth (as far as I'm concerned lol). In fact, I've used it for two procedures and a third is scheduled.

Procedure one (the first) -- My back molar had a root canal with a prior dentist and it needed a crown. Plus, the molar directly in front also needed a root canal (and crown) and we decided to remove the wisdom tooth on that side at the same time. We were also going to do a deep root planning of the entire mouth, but the molar needing the root canal was infected and took longer than expected.

The dentist had me take one tablet the weekend before the procedure to see how I'd react. The problem (which really wasn't a problem) is that I thought the medicine would pretty much knock me out ...... and it didn't. I felt like I'd had a couple of drinks and was a little groggy, but I could have easily functioned doing daily stuff. And that made me worry that the medicine wouldn't sufficiently sedate me for what we had planned. However, it turned out that my worries were misplaced and that my reaction was pretty much what the dentist was looking for.

The morning of the procedure, I took the pills to the appointment and the dentist gave me two and a half. Pretty soon, he hooked up the nitrous gas and then they left me in a quiet room until things took effect. I remember thinking that I didn't feel anything and began to worry (again) that this wouldn't be sufficient to sedate me enough for the work we had planned .................... and then I remember telling the dentist that I needed to use the restroom. Nothing bad. Just a full bladder. What I didn't realize then was that we were well over half way through the work at that point. Then I returned the chair, he gave me another pill (because I was somewhat awake from getting up and walking), we waited a bit more and then I was out again.

I have absolutely no memory of the root canal, prepping the two teeth for the crown or of the temporaries being put on. My next awarness (after the bathroom break) was when the dentist was removing the wisdom tooth. It was weird. I was aware of what was happening and remember thinking (rather clearly) "I don't think that I like this", but there wasn't any pain or anxiety. I think that if things had gone on much longer that I might have become more awake and then more anxious, but at that point it literally was simply being aware of what was happening and being aware that I didn't like it. But not caring. Even now with the memory that I knew what the dentist was doing, there isn't any anxiety attached.

Once we were done, my son drove me home. I was able to walk in on my own, talked for a bit, assured the family that I was fine and then I went to bed and slept for three, four hours. When I woke, I was a little groggy. But by then the grogginess was more due to the pain meds than the Triazolam.

The second procedure was much the same for me, but with far less work done. I went in, the dentist gave me the pills, then gas and then I don't remember anything until I was walking to the car with my son. This time all that we did was a root canal on a molar on the other side, but it was a doozey of a procedure. The tooth was BADLY infected, and I literally had a lump on the side of my gums just below the tooth. Even the dentist wasn't sure if he could save the tooth (and I fully expected to wake up and find it gone). But he's a really good dentist and I lucked out. It took a couple of hours, but he cleaned out the infection and built up a temporary filling to stablize the tooth until we put a crown on.

After it was done, I again slept several hours and was a little groggy the rest of that night. But I was fine by the next day. In fact, I was doing so well that two days later we went to a fair.

I have a third procedure planned in two weeks where we're going to remove the other three wisdom teeth. After that, I don't think that my remaining work is going to be serious enough that I'll need sedation. But if I'm wrong and something major needs to be done ........... I won't hesitate to use Triazolam again.

I hope this helps easy your worry. Honestly, I think this stuff is a God send to those of us with dental phobias.

 

[Guest]

Oh i HOPE your 'account' of the sedation effect is going to happen again! I am going on Thursday the 19th and could not be more scared if I was having open heart surgery instead of just 4 teeth taken out! Of course, the reason I need four taken out is the same reason I'm afraid to even go!

EEEKKSS!!

 

[Skittish]

It seems like most people get both nitrous and oral sedative, whereas my doctor only offers the halcion, which is a little disappointing. Do you think you would have been okay with just the pills?

 

[Meetoo]

It seems like most people get both nitrous and oral sedative, whereas my doctor only offers the halcion, which is a little disappointing.  Do you think you would have been okay with just the pills?

In a word ........... no. My dentist says that it takes both to work the way it does, and that's what my experience seems to indicate. The pills alone make me sleepy, but it's not until they hook up the gas that I truly go out. AND once they remove the gas, I become aware of things again and wake up.

 

[Becky]

I just got some information from my dentist on sedation, and in it, it said no caffiene for 12 hours prior. I am 'addicted' to coffee in the morning! So much so, that I get terrible migraines if I don't have at least a little. Has anyone else been told this? Thanks!
Becky

 

[Marie]

I went to the dentist today, she gave me one pill .25mg triazolam - it made me a little drowsy but did nothing to alleviate my fear. I went home without having the dental work done and slept for 4 1/2 hours - what a waste of my day. In the early 90s I had a dentist that gave me laughing gas and it was great, but this dentist won't use it.

 

[Parsnip]

I just got some information from my dentist on sedation, and in it, it said no caffiene for 12 hours prior. I am 'addicted' to coffee in the morning! So much so, that I get terrible migraines if I don't have at least a little. Has anyone else been told this? Thanks!
Becky

I guess that coffee being a stimulant, it will counteract the sedative effect to some degree. I'd have the coffee to avoid you biting anyones head off on the way to your appointment

 

[tenax]

new to the board here and while it's somewhat sad how many of us have fear of dentists, etc..it's also comforting in a way. i have a high degree of fear of dentists..to the point that i did not go for 29 years until i had a molar partially rot and breakup and had to go and had never had a cleaning and it was badly needed. that was 3 years ago and thank god for sedation dentistry. i believe i was given halcyon pills..nothing else..i had to be given an extra one before my appt as i wasn't conking out, but otherwise, didn't remember a thing after the appt was done...truly amazing...and you'd think that i would go again without any issues after that..well, not so for a few reasons..

a) you don't give up on almost 30 years of general dental phobia easily

b) i guess i just would rather not go to the dentist for another 29 years if i can avoid it.

c) while my wife found it kind of funny, it was a bit scary too. i'll explain below..laugh if you like..it is kind of funny now

i have to go again in march and should have gone earlier as i found out about 6 months ago that my bottom 4 middle teeth have some decay in the back.i should have dealt with it then, but convinced myself it would be okay..now, i've convinced myself that at the age of 44, if i don't deal with this, i'll likely lose those teeth and don't want to wear a plate at my age, get extractions for crying out loud..so common sense is kicking in...now!

anyway, my experience..well , after the dental appt, i was conked out for hours...i think it ended about 1pm, and i believe my wife said i woke up about 7pm..felt very groggy and out of it for the rest of the evening and ended up taking the next day off i believe...no biggie, but, you do have to plan for assistance after the appt.

what might happen? well, a few things i now think i'm going to do to prepare is:

-get my wife to take my wallet and my keys..i didn't realize until after that you can function pretty well after this is done..you could go out and load up your credit card, or scarier, if no one stopped you, drive your car...best it would seem to me to have someone stay home with you the day of. i imagine coordination is somewhat impaired and even walking up and down stairs in that state could be dangerous.

now, the funny story..my wife is 5'2..i'm 6 ft..and weight about twice her weight..apparently, she was baking a cake and had the bowl with batter in it and i came into the kitchen and demanded she give me the bowl.. i guess i refused to accept no and proceeded to eat a mixing bowl full of chololate cake batter then happily went back to bed darned if i remember it..and while i like batter, not something i'd do in a conscious state

hence why i think the possibilities are pretty open for doing things that go against common sense including loading up a credit card while you're affected

 

[Momzilla]

Oh My!

Trouble is... I could eat a bowl of chocolate batter when I'm conscious! Yeah yeah... I have issues with that as well.

Glad your appt worked out well. I'm just starting my journey... and am like you. I HAVE to have work done!

Anyway... tell your wife to keep cooking! It sounds like it actually agreed with you!

Best Regards!

 

[Skittish]

Well to answer my own question, Triazolam did not really work for me. I think the dosage I was given was too low, because I didn't feel anything, remember everything, and didn't exhibit any strange behavior during or afterwards. I did sleep for 4 hours after I got home, but I think that was more due to the fact that I didn't sleep at all the previous night due to the pain in my molar- and, I imagine, due to relief of having the worst of it behind me.

On the plus side, it turns out that the procedure wasn't even painful and now I know I don't need triazolam in the future.

 

[tenax]

thank you, Momzilla, for the feedback..i'm dieting now so i guess it'll have to be a big bowl of salad if i'm going to fight over any food

terry

 

[calimom]

I had a tooth pulled yesterday. I was given 2 halcion an hour prior. It ddn't do much, except calm me down a little I was still awake and unfortunatky remember everything. Now I don't want to go back I am so traumatized

 

[ScaredinNS]

I had Halcion (Triazolam) The dentist gave me a scrip for 3 x .25 mg pills. (There is a lower dose - .125 mg pills.) so some of you who didnt get enough sedation may have had a lower dose. ANyway, I was supposed to take one the night before (apparently there is a cumulative effect of sorts and if you get a good night sleep then you will more easily become sedated.) Then I was supposed to take 1 an hour before the appt. Well it didn't work out that way. I had to work the night overnight before the appt...... I guess being really tired may have actually helped the sedation! ANyway they told me to just take the 2 an hour before the appt. The third I was supposed to bring with me in case I was not sedated enough.

I remember I took the pills and felt nothing for about 20 mins... I was checking emails on my puter waiting for my Mother to arrive at my building to pick me up as she was my escort. At 20 mins almost precisely (I was keeping track) I remember turning my head to look sideways at something and everything took a few seconds to catch up!!! I cant describe it really... but it hit me all at once! After that point, I could not walk a straight line, and I imagine I looked drunk! lol. ANyway, I remember gettign to the apt, I walked in, and I remember going into the room, and laying down, but then really nothing more until they were done (except the darned needle!!! The one thing if I had to chose that I would have picked to be the thing I forgot!!) I didnt need the 3rd pill btw. So .5 mg total an hour before the apt and I achieved the anterograde amnesia (cant remember) that I wanted.

I do remember coming home though... so I think that if you are concentrating on things, you can function and will remember more easily. If you just let your mind go blank, and close your eyes, you will more easily let the amnesia effect take place.

The stuff is great!
I have never had both oral sedation and nitrous oxide together... but have had them seperately....

 

[Brimstone14]

new to the board here and while it's somewhat sad how many of us have fear of dentists, etc..it's also comforting in a way. i have a high degree of fear of dentists..to the point that i did not go for 29 years until i had a molar partially rot and breakup and had to go and had never had a cleaning and it was badly needed. that was 3 years ago and thank god for sedation dentistry. i believe i was given halcyon pills..nothing else..i had to be given an extra one before my appt as i wasn't conking out, but otherwise, didn't remember a thing after the appt was done...truly amazing...and you'd think that i would go again without any issues after that..well, not so for a few reasons..

a) you don't give up on almost 30 years of general dental phobia easily

b) i guess i just would rather not go to the dentist for another 29 years if i can avoid it.

c) while my wife found it kind of funny, it was a bit scary too. i'll explain below..laugh if you like..it is kind of funny now

i have to go again in march and should have gone earlier as i found out about 6 months ago that my bottom 4 middle teeth have some decay in the back.i should have dealt with it then, but convinced myself it would be okay..now, i've convinced myself that at the age of 44, if i don't deal with this, i'll likely lose those teeth and don't want to wear a plate at my age, get extractions for crying out loud..so common sense is kicking in...now!

anyway, my experience..well , after the dental appt, i was conked out for hours...i think it ended about 1pm, and i believe my wife said i woke up about 7pm..felt very groggy and out of it for the rest of the evening and ended up taking the next day off i believe...no biggie, but, you do have to plan for assistance after the appt.

what might happen? well, a few things i now think i'm going to do to prepare is:

-get my wife to take my wallet and my keys..i didn't realize until after that you can function pretty well after this is done..you could go out and load up your credit card, or scarier, if no one stopped you, drive your car...best it would seem to me to have someone stay home with you the day of. i imagine coordination is somewhat impaired and even walking up and down stairs in that state could be dangerous.

now, the funny story..my wife is 5'2..i'm 6 ft..and weight about twice her weight..apparently, she was baking a cake and had the bowl with batter in it and i came into the kitchen and demanded she give me the bowl.. i guess i refused to accept no and proceeded to eat a mixing bowl full of chololate cake batter then happily went back to bed darned if i remember it..and while i like batter, not something i'd do in a conscious state

hence why i think the possibilities are pretty open for doing things that go against common sense including loading up a credit card while you're affected

I love this post! I have a big appointment next week and am doing oral sedation and I pray mine goes like yours. I will avoid cake batter though! Thank you for sharing