IV Sedation- PLEASE HELP

[burb]

I made a topic here the other day on the Wisdom Tooth board about General Anesthesia, but didn't get any help...

I've since learned that I'll likely be having IV Sedation rather than GA, which eased my fear a little, as I've heard IV Sedation is safer.

However, I've made the mistake of searching around the internet for info on it, and I've heard someone say that in America, IV Sedation and General Anesthesia are the same thing and that I'm in danger because I'm having the procedure done at the dental office by an oral surgeon, likely with no anesthesiologist present.

I have severe anxiety problems and sometimes have difficulty breathing. I'm absolutely terrified and I need help. I'm not going back to the dentist until Wednesday and can't shake my fear at all. Please help me....

 

[BigMrTong]

Hi, I dont beleve you should worry at all. IV sedation is the same as in that you will remember and feel nothing until it is all over, but it is different. You are resposnsive to a higher level than with GA and recover much quicker. I had it to remove a wisdom tooth and for a root canal. Both times I remember NOTHING unil I was woken by the Dentist as it wore off 30 - 45mins mins later. I was able to walk out of the office fine and remember nothing. I did have to have my wife drive me home as they advise as I felt very tired.

 

[burb]

Now I've learned that IV Sedation can be lethal, too...

I need to be knocked out to have this done, but I'm terrified of the death risk, as low as it even is. It's actually more scary to me than the extractions themselves at this point.

 

[chickenjen]

If it makes you feel any better, I've had IV sedation 4 times in my life...................... 3 times for medical procedures and once for dental. I'm here to tell the tale, I had NO complications from IV sedation.
My husband also has had IV sedation............5 times so far, and he too, has had NO complications....woke up normally.
Googling for information is a 2 edged sword..................it WILL give you information, but it can also scare the pants off you.
Usually dental offices that offer IV sedation have a dentist or oral surgeon that has trained extra in the use of IV sedation.
In my dental IV sedation, I had my specially trained dentist, a nurse and a nurse anesthestist present during my dental procedures so I felt I was in capable hands.
Best of to you!!!!

 

[burb]

If it makes you feel any better, I've had IV sedation 4 times in my life...................... 3 times for medical procedures and once for dental. I'm here to tell the tale, I had NO complications from IV sedation.
My husband also has had IV sedation............5 times so far, and he too, has had NO complications....woke up normally.
Googling for information is a 2 edged sword..................it WILL give you information, but it can also scare the pants off you.
Usually dental offices that offer IV sedation have a dentist or oral surgeon that has trained extra in the use of IV sedation.
In my dental IV sedation, I had my specially trained dentist, a nurse and a nurse anesthestist present during my dental procedures so I felt I was in capable hands.
Best of to you!!!!

Oh, believe me, I know how bad googling symptoms and procedures can be. I've been doing it obsessively for years, although this is surprisingly hardly anything dentistry related.

At any rate, while I'm still scared, your post did help somewhat! It's nice hearing from someone with firsthand experience of getting extractions done at the dental office.

 

[chickenjen]

Glad my post helped you a bit.
And as BigMrTong mentioned....................you are aware enough to respond to your dentist, to breathe on your own (as opposed to GA, where they put a breathing tube in you) and you might even remember bits and pieces of things (I remember waking up, not feeling any pain, hearing a conversation around me but TOO sleepy to join in and went back to sleep).
You will receive local anesthesia (while you are in sleepyland from the IV sedation) on the areas being worked on, so you will have NO pain.
Many !!!!!

 

[BostonBelle03]

Hi burb,

Just wanted to provide another successful IV Sedation experience to help calm your fears. I had 14 teeth removed (including 4 wisdom teeth) under IV Sedation back in February and I can honestly say that while I was under, it was the BEST THING! I was also nervous because I had never been "put under" before for anything, and I was worried about not waking up or having complications. But honestly, it was such an easy process that I cannot recommend it enough. In fact, I am having surgery again on Wednesday to place a few implants and I am having IV Sedation for that procedure and I am much more calm this time around!
The last time I had it, the first thing the dentist did was hook me up to a number of monitors to measure heartbeat, pulse, blood pressure, etc. They are very conscious about measuring your vitals during the process and I also noticed that they have AEDs on the walls, which put me at ease. Then he placed the IV in my arm and then hooked up the meds and after only a few seconds I remember my toes starting to tingle and the dentist asked if I was starting to feel it and that's the last thing I remember until they woke me up. It was probably the easiest part of the entire procedure!

If I were you, I would talk to your dentist about your fears. Maybe have him walk you through the process? Also, if you find that you are still too worried about going under, there may be other sedation options that are less scary that could work for you like oral sedation or laughing gas. Good luck with whatever you choose!

xo,
Belle