IV sedation -- awake or asleep?

[statica]

salut, i have another quick question.

im getting IV sedation on thursday for my appointment, but from what i have read here, people either say:

-- its like them being awake and not feeling/not caring about what the dentist is doing

-- or its like them being asleep the whole time so they dont remember nothing.

do i have to like ask what level of sedation i want. cuz i like have a fear of someone being too close to my person (bad childhood experience, i dont like people in my personal space cuz it makes me crazy major afraid and triggers flashbacks) so i would prefer not to be awake at all.

can i ask for that? whats it like, do you really not remember nothing?

 

[brit]

Yes, ask for a deep level of sedation

I have read replies before that if the patient can ask for more sedation, they can have it (as there's not really a maximum dose) as it means they are not sedated enough.
So my advice would be to say to your dentist (who I understand is experienced at this so you should be fine) that you want to be as 'out of it' as possible. If you find you are not happy during the procedure, say so, so more drugs can be given.
This is a much safer way to do procedures than full general anaesthetic and has the advantage that you are physically able to co-operate rather than being an 'unconscious mass' - more delicate dental procedures can be done under sedation than under GA and usually for GA you have to be in a hospital which in the USA would increase the costs a lot.

Most i/v sedation accounts on here have been very positive indeed, along the lines of why on earth didn't I do this sooner?. The few where difficulties were encountered were with inexperienced sedationists unnecessarily afraid to up the dose...so you don't have to worry about this aspect.

Very best wishes - it will be great for you to have made so much progress by Christmas - well done for getting this far .

 

[scaredstiff]

The sedationist can give you whatever level of sedation he feels is right for you. In my particular case, I was so terrified,I really was and though I know we are all scared because that's why we're on this forum, my fear was such that it was many, many, many years that I didnt go to a dentist. So, having heard people's experiences of saying they were aware but didn't care I had told both my dentist and sedationist I wanted to be completely out. It was for that reason they gave me very deep sedation so I really was out completely and absolutely no awareness. I really feel that, unlike some people who say they don't want sedation because they want to be in control, well I was in control because it was I who chose to be sedated, and I who chose the level of sedation. In other words, my dentist and sedationist respected my wishes and did as I wanted, and being true professionals they knew that if I got what I wanted, I would be a better patient and therefore they would be able to carry on all the better without having to keep glancing at me to make sure I was OK. I assure you I was, I was in seventh heaven, out to the world.