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Managed two cleanings now scared and worried about extractions

  • Thread starter Thread starter had-enough
  • Start date Start date
H

had-enough

Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2013
Messages
62
Location
newcastle upon tyne
Hey so I managed to go through my cleaning appointments with the hygienist and I survived. Now I have to.waiting for the dental hospital to contact me regarding multiple extractions. I'm so scared how will I feel during the procedure when I'm sedated ? How will I be the next day. Will I need time off work I'm so.confused/nervous/ scared please help I'm going out of my mind.

Sorry for rambling and thanks for any replies.
 
Hi had-enough, and welcome! :)

Firstly a big well done for getting through two cleanings, you should be proud of yourself for managing them. I had three extractions a little over two weeks ago and will have two more before this month is out. What kind of sedation are you having? I only have experience of IV sedation while having treatment, so I'm afraid I can only offer input into that. If you're having oral sedation or general anesthetic, no doubt someone will be along at some point to give you a heads up on them.

I totally get how scary it is, especially when you're waiting for the unknown, but I hope I can help ease that anxiety even slightly. I was petrified before mine, and convinced it wouldn't work, but it really did. I hardly remember anything (I did come to once, but the dentist immediately topped me up with the meds, so I was back with the fairies before I knew it) and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room. I felt no pain whatsoever, which was another thing I was panicking about, and it was fine. I'm using IV sedation when I go back for my next appointment, too.

If you're having IV sedation, you'll definitely need to take that day off work, and probably the next, too. As I mentioned, I don't know about the other types of sedation, but I was assume with anything you'd have to take at least one day off work. I'm not going to pretend there was no pain afterwards, but I can tell you it was nothing like the pain I was experiencing before. You'll be given an aftercare sheet to take home with you, about what you should and shouldn't do to promote healing, but really, in all likelihood, you'll be absolutely fine. It's normal to feel tired and groggy for the rest of the day after the procedure, and you'll become best friends with soup and other soft food for a few days ;), but the pain will be managed if you keep on top of it with paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I know I probably haven't answered all of your questions, but if you need anything, just ask :)

Take care

Lost
 
Hi had-enough, and welcome! :)

Firstly a big well done for getting through two cleanings, you should be proud of yourself for managing them. I had three extractions a little over two weeks ago and will have two more before this month is out. What kind of sedation are you having? I only have experience of IV sedation while having treatment, so I'm afraid I can only offer input into that. If you're having oral sedation or general anesthetic, no doubt someone will be along at some point to give you a heads up on them.

I totally get how scary it is, especially when you're waiting for the unknown, but I hope I can help ease that anxiety even slightly. I was petrified before mine, and convinced it wouldn't work, but it really did. I hardly remember anything (I did come to once, but the dentist immediately topped me up with the meds, so I was back with the fairies before I knew it) and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room. I felt no pain whatsoever, which was another thing I was panicking about, and it was fine. I'm using IV sedation when I go back for my next appointment, too.

If you're having IV sedation, you'll definitely need to take that day off work, and probably the next, too. As I mentioned, I don't know about the other types of sedation, but I was assume with anything you'd have to take at least one day off work. I'm not going to pretend there was no pain afterwards, but I can tell you it was nothing like the pain I was experiencing before. You'll be given an aftercare sheet to take home with you, about what you should and shouldn't do to promote healing, but really, in all likelihood, you'll be absolutely fine. It's normal to feel tired and groggy for the rest of the day after the procedure, and you'll become best friends with soup and other soft food for a few days ;), but the pain will be managed if you keep on top of it with paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I know I probably haven't answered all of your questions, but if you need anything, just ask :)

Take care

Lost

Hi lost thanks for the reply yes I'm sure it's iv sedation. So a couple of days off and I'll be fine? Thank you for putting my.mind at rest a little. In still nervous but like you say it's the fear of the unknown as I don't even know exactly what treatment I'm having Booo

Hate dentists but love this forum
 
Hi there,

Yes, after a couple of days, I think it'll be fine to go back to work. The reason you can't go back before, as well as the pain, is because your decision making might be a bit off kilter for up to 48 hours after the procedure. On the list of my things to do and not to do after the sedation, it mentions stuff such as not signing important documents, not putting yourself in a position to make important decisions, and you shouldn't drive for at least 24 hours after the sedation, but anything up to 48 hours is recommended. I was warned beforehand of the things I shouldn't do and I was even more worried because I wondered what the hell I was going to be like with all of those warnings. Another includes not to go on social media for 24-48, in case you write/say/do something you regret, but honestly I was fine. I was very tired, repeated myself a few times, but that's about it.

Although you should be fine to go back to work after a couple of days, you'll still have pain, but by the third or fourth day it was discomfort for me than pain. There's other tips as to how to promote healing of the extraction sites after the surgery, but you'll get those on your aftercare sheet. If you want to know beforehand, however (I know I need to know exactly what is going to happen, exactly what I'm going to need to do etc before I actually had the procedure) then just ask :)

It is worrying when you don't know exactly what is going on, I was in the same situation myself, and still am to some degree and I know how stressful it can be. Did they not think to tell you at your appointment before your referral to the dental hospital what is likely to happen or are they waiting for the dental hospital to have a proper look before a real estimation can be made? Hopefully it won't be too long before you hear back from them, it's not nice to spend all your time worrying over the what ifs of everything.

Hope you're okay, and please take care

Lost :)
 
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