IV sedation for two hours??

[kaybee]

I have dental anxiety due to the oral surgeon breaking my jaw during a wisdom tooth extraction (I have brittle bones). I have to get a root canal done on a front tooth and they also have to seal the gum around the tooth (maybe to prevent infection?). I scheduled a root canal, but went in with diazepam in my system and was still scared so now they've decided to do BOTH procedures in ONE appointment with IV sedation (twilight).

I am not only afraid of being at the dentist, but I am afraid of being "loopy", but still being completely aware of what's happening and not being able to do anything about it. I'm sure that once they inject the IV, I probably won't care at all what they're doing (but, that's what they said the diazepam would do...). Can someone reassure that the time will fly? I won't be anxious or want to get out of the chair? Will I be aware? They said I will be able to follow requests that they make like open my mouth wider or turn my head, etc., but that makes it sound like I will clearly still be awake and aware.

Is there anyone else like me who doesn't like being unaware? Or who was really nervous for IV sedation?

 

[ComradeSnarky]

I've only had IV sedation once and it wasn't at the dentist, I'm not sure if it's a different type or not. But for me I went to the emergency room with horrible, horrible stomach pain, so bad I couldn't do anything but roll around and cry! They gave me an IV, mind you I am also absolutly terrified on needles, but basically as soon as they put it in it just stopped. I stopped crying immediately and the pain was non-existent as far as I could tell. There was also a kinda high, kinda floaty feeling. I've had nitrous at the dentist (which I've been told is similar to the anti-anxiety pills) and the IV was much better and more relaxing. It also didn't make me feel not in control or too out of it, which is a feeling I really hate. You are aware but it's also really easy to phase out and let your mind go somewhere else why it's happening. I think you're gonna be just fine with the IV! Good luck and I hope everything goes well for you!

 

[comfortdentist]

In general 2 hours under IV is often done by me and patients do very well.

 

[rob wain]

I agree, iv sedation is really good for long procedures. It helps you relax and the time passes much quicker.
The trick is to embrace the warm feeling that the iv gives you and not try and fight it.
best of luck

 

[Karenw]

I had IV sedation, midazolam, for two hours. I needed a full phial to knock me out and then a full dose of the reversal agent to wake me up afterwards and even then it was 4 days before I could stay awake for more than 20 minutes at a time. I think I had far too much.

On the plus side, there was nothing unpleasant about going to sleep, no hot or stinging sensation in my veins - one second I was wide awake and shaking - then I was out.

When I came round, 2 hours and 5 minutes had passed but it really felt I'd only been asleep for 10 minutes. Similarly the 40 minute drive home only felt like 10 minutes. I was groggy (as in very sleepy) and didn't want to get off the dentist's chair (that's a first!) but didn't feel ill or have any unpleasant sensations although I did feel a bit hungry. I didn't have any sort of 'high' or floaty feelings - just overwhelming sleepiness.

I can't comment on the following days because I mostly slept through those too!

 

[nathalie]

I cried like a little kid when I got the IV in my arm, I guess it was just kind of stress-release, the stress builds up untill the moment is there when it needs to happen, and then just gets out ...

After it was all done, I was like: that was it?
(I am scared to death to do it again though, but I'm sure I'll say "that's it?" when it's over again)

I am afraid of needles aswell, but I'd rather have the needle in my arm, then in my gumbs
Anyways...
I was out for a little over an hour, I couldn't hear a thing, and when it was all over and done, I woke up a little after it.
(I did wake up during, they thought I would be able to handle it, but due to some mis-communication they were quite rude and I think they added some more through the IV and I fell asleep again, the thing is, I felt like I needed to sneeze, and I needed to point that out to them, but couldn't really, haha)

After it was all done, I slept for another good 4 hours when I was home, so in total I was kind of "gone" for at least 5 hours.