My second time having IV sedation but different procedure - Very Nervous Again

[ItsBecky]

Hey everyone!

Back in 2021 I posted in here because I was so incredibly anxious about having my wisdom teeth removed under IV sedation for the first time, and everyone was super amazing at helping me to calm down, I did the procedure and it went fine really well actually! And I thought that was the end of it.. But unfortunately not

I do still unfortunately still suffer from very bad dental anxiety to this day so because of this I only see the dentist once a year just to keep my nhs status going as thats the maximum you can wait for. Every year since 2022 they have tried to give me an xray but because of my awful gag reflex they have been unable too, this year they referred me to the hospital to have an xray done and that when they discovered decay forming, it wasn't clear enough for them to spot it without an xray yet but I'm still unsure how long it has been forming for. Unfortunately because of this I have to have a total of 6 fillings done, due to my anxiety. my gag reflex and where they are positioned in my mouth the dentist has automatically referred me to have it done under sedation as he knows I couldn't have it done awake, which although I'm terrified about it I completely respect his decision.
Last time I was referred it was during covid so I had to wait at least 6 months I think it was for an appointment with the NHS, this time it's a much quicker turn around and my appointment is in 2 weeks (11th July) and I was only referred about a week ago (again im with the NHS)

I know it probably seems weird that I'm absolutely terrified about being sedated again but 1. the last time I had it done was 4 years ago so my memory of it is a bit sketchy now, 2. I'm having a different procedure this time. 3. In the end my wisdom teeth removal only took them about ten minutes and was easier then expected, this procedure would be a lot longer

So I just have a couple of questions I would like to ask which may put me at ease a little bit if that's okay?

1. How long would it take for the dentist to fill 6 of my teeth?

2. I remember being very loopy last time will it be as strong this time? Would I potentially come out of the anaesthetic quicker than last time? The thought of feeling out of control and remembering nothing still scares me quite a bit, even though I've done it before.

3. The last time I had my teeth done was during COVID, so I left quite quickly after it was done. Would I be allowed to stay longer so I'm not as "high" when I go to travel home?

4. If i ended up asking for a bit of inhalation sedation just to calm me down so they can sedate me properly, would that be added to the bill as well or not? (i'm doing this under the NHS)

Any replies to my questions would be amazing for the peace of mind, also if anyone else has had sedation for something like this instead please let me know, I know sedation isn't just done for wisdom teeth removal but it's the most common thing I seem to see, so help from anyone who has also had this kind of procedure done under sedation instead would be amazing

Thankyou!

 

[Enarete]

Hi Becky,

first of all well done on having done through the x-ray and having the procedure done now. It makes a lot of sense to me that you do not have much of a clear memory on how things went last time. After all, that is the purpose of sedation - not to remember anything.

I can't answer all of your questions, however the sedation process should be pretty much the same regardless of what is being done. I would also expect fillings to be much easier then extractions. When it comes to staying longer, I am sure they will let you stay there until you feel comfortable to leave, however feeling a little "high" or loopy may still be there because that is just how sedation works. Will you have someone to go home with you?
When it comes to filling 6 teeth, that really is dependent on which teeth and how deep the decay and where it is placed etc., also on the type of the filling you will be getting. With that said, for you it won't make a difference - you will feel like closing your eyes and then opening them and it will be over.

I don't know about the inhalation sedation and the bill, but maybe you could call / email them and ask beforehand?

All the best wishes

 

[ItsBecky]

Hi Enarete

Thanks for your response!

My mum will be coming in with me, and my dad is driving us there and back. My mum used to be a nurse so she has reassured me she will not let me leave until she is happy with me, which has helped a lot but I'm still nervous.

I believe the decay isn't that bad yet as the dentist couldn't even see it without an xray but that could also mean that the decay is too deep for the dentist to be able to see physically, also the fillings are being done at the back of my mouth hence why i'm being sedated as my gag reflex and anxiety is just too bad for me to have it done awake.

I may be okay and not need it but I may end up asking for inhalation on the day, it depends just how scared I am, right now I feel okay but on the actual day I will probably be a mess and I really don't want to end up bottling it. I was A LOT more scared last time and managed to still do it without needing inhalation sedation so fingers crossed I'll be okay but just have to see on the day

Thanks again!

If anyone else is able to answer my other questions please still do! and I will try my best to update people afterwards on how it went (as I completely forgot last time!)

 

[letsconnect]

Hi @ItsBecky, regarding number 4, there won't be an extra charge for the inhalation sedation if the IV sedation is done on the NHS. I presume it's the community dental service or an equivalent you've been referred to, and they just charge normal NHS bands (in this case Band 2? you can see the charges here: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-much-nhs-dental-treatment-costs/ ).

We've got a section with personal experiences of sedation here which may be good to read up on:

IV Sedation Experiences

Read about IV sedation experiences which people have shared on Dental Fear Central over the years!

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Wishing you all the best, and please do update us!

 

[ItsBecky]

Quick update: My appointment has been moved to the 25th of July now rather then the original 11th, can't help feeling a bit disappointed as I wanted it over and done with, due to struggling to think past that date because of anxiety. On the positive side though 4 years ago when I had it done I had to wait over a year just to have it rescheduled for another 3 months the week of, so it could always be worse!

I will update again once it's done

 

[ItsBecky]

Hi everyone so I've had my appointment and I can't help feeling really low and dissappointed about how it went (I know being emotional can be a side effect of the sedation as well don't get me wrong) but I feel like the appointment didn't go at all to plan.

Just want to clarify before I start the IV sedation itself was fine, I do remember most of the procedure which I found odd as last time I didn't, but it wasn't a really traumatic experience or anything like it would have been if I was fully awake, honestly nothing to worry about there at all my problem was with the actual aneathetist himself, he was really rude and impatient and made me feel really horrible for being so anxious, he actually at one point refused to sedate me unless I calmed down, and his general attitude and lack of empathy made me feel even worse, so much so that my mum had to say to him "give me a couple of minutes and I will help calm her down" in the end he put the sedative in and I felt very drunk but I was aware the whole time just not really bothered.

They were also unable to do the last 2 fillings so I have had 4 done in the end rather then 6, the whole reason why they couldn't do the last 2 was because I was retching so badly which shocked me because I was led to believe sedation suppresses the gag reflex all together, the gagging wasn't personally bothering me though but it meant the dentist had to stop, I remember even asking them to sedate me more so they could do it and they refused. Overall the whole experience wasn't good, the IV sedation was fine I promise there's nothing to worry about there, I just feel so emotional and down right now about how I was treated by the aneathetist for being anxious I was literally in there for 2 minutes crying and he was getting really angry and refusing to do it if I didn't calm down, I'm planning on making a complaint when I can, but I will most likely have to have the last 2 teeth done eventually as well and this has just really upset and worried me about the next time. Luckily my actual dentist is lovely but they don't do sedation at my local practice so I have no choice but to go elsewhere, sorry if this sounds mean but sedation is meant for anxious patients so if you can't deal with anxious patients maybe you're in the wrong profession!? It's just put a downer on my mood so much and I wasn't the only one in there that day that was crying and really scared as I saw a couple of others when I was coming out, I'm worried that he may of done the same thing to them too. I was hoping to come out feeling really proud of myself but instead I just feel belittled and dissappointed. Really sorry this isn't a better update but I do want to continue to stress the actual IV part was fine, I didn't fall asleep or time travel like others have experienced but it was still fine I felt unbothered about what was actually being done to me, it was just the way I was treated personally beforehand that was the problem, and unfortunately things like this could make my dental anxiety even worse.

 

[krlovesherkids777]

It'sBecky, I am so sorry about your experience. That would be deeply disturbing and confusing and anxiety provoking the way they treated you. Especially the anesthesiologist. It's really a hard thing to come into a place and know you are getting dental surgery and want to trust them but then to come across that very sharp non empathetic attitude. To be honest. I give you a lot of credit I probably would have failed the rest room test at the point he refused to treat you unless you calmed down.. meaning would have quickly grabbed my purse and said excuse me I need to use the rest room and just not came back. You were indeed so incredibly brave and strong, they should have validated you and not shamed you! It does seem from what you say too that you probably weren't the only one. I hope that you were able to treat yourself kindly after that and get some rest. That is certainly a lot to process. I'm glad you have a regular dentist that is lovely. Hopefully you can go there for most any follow up work.