Sedation - Do you feel any pain whilst being under?

[madsteph]

Having a Root Canal

Hi all,
I'm kind of moping about the house today feeling pretty glum. I only have 2 fillings in my mouth but the one on the right hand side is a pain in the arse and despite having had it re-filled for about the third time, 5 odd months ago, it has been aching (not major bad) all week. I decided to go to the dentist although because it was a Sat I went to a private one - I've had a few bad experiences with dentists and the last one, whilst nice, was an NHS dentist and I just sort of felt a bit rushed - in, out next patient sort of thing!

So I went along to this new dentist who told me that there is more decay in the tooth and that I could either have it extracted or go through a root canal..I've already been looking these up and I've think I've scared myself to death. I have a VERY low pain threshold - you could pinch me and I'd probably cry. He was very nice to me but I kept asking whether things would hurt..he was like 'what is it with you and the word pain' - well duh! He has started to prep it for a root canal today - basically took the old filling out and started to move the new decay away but he caused me quite a bit of pain at one point and I said I didn't want to go through with anymore drilling today (don't know whether I should of as it might be easier next time but my hands were shaking and my legs were and I was so scared).

Since having that pain though whilst he was drilling I can't help wondering how bad it's going to be next time as the decay is quite close to the nerve. I can't understand as well why my nerve should be hurting - surely when you have a root canal done it's because the nerve is dying? Or is it because it's just a little sensitive? He said that my tooth was badly decayed - you would think extraction would be the best way forward because it's cheaper but that's supposed to have it's side effects!

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had one done and whether they can tell me whether it hurts or not. I didn't really feel the anaesthetic worked brilliantly today so perhaps that's why I felt something? On top of all my worry, to go to a private dentist has cost me a fortune. £100 for today's work (which includes a £20 deposit for the next appointment), it will be £45 for the checkup which he needs to do and then I think £290 for the root canal! If they decide to put a crown on - well I'm broke! I'm not a person of great means..the money doesn't worry me loads..I'd rather pay to ensure I had NO PAIN but then I'm wondering whether I am better off going to an NHS dentist..ooh I don't know! I'm so bloody petrified, I was in absolute tears!

Can anyone offer any advice on root canals?
Steph

 

[annie778]

Re: Having a Root Canal

Nothing should hurt these days. I guess the only thing you can do if you haven't been fully prepped for a root canal is go to the nhs dentist and ask if you really need a canal.

However, if the tooth has been filled three times now, then either the dentist is doing something wrong or there is something very wrong with the tooth. I don't understand why a filling needs to be replaced so often. I've had the same fillings since the 80s with no probs. Maybe these days they remove too little tooth to try to conserve but it ends up counter productive.

 

[brit]

Re: Having a Root Canal

Doesn't sound like my sort of private dentist if he expects you to put up with pain during drilling!!!??? Think I'd be looking for a different one if I were you. If you are properly anaethetised dentistry is not painful.

 

[brit]

Re: Having a Root Canal

Nothing should hurt these days. I guess the only thing you can do if you haven't been fully prepped for a root canal is go to the nhs dentist and ask if you really need a canal.

Sounds like a catalogue of incompetence - why not get a second opinion from a dentist recommended on our Dentistfinder - 'pain merchants' don't tend to get recommended :

Find a dentist for nervous patients

Has your dentist helped you overcome your fears? In our dentist reviews section, you can leave a review for them, or find a dentist near you who is good with nervous or phobic patients.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

By the way it's definitely best to keep your tooth if you can, the NHS one will probably just want to take it out.Your other option is to get an endodontist to finish it off, they specialise in (painless) root canals.
How experienced was the private dentist...when did he qualify for instance - you can search for this on the GDC Register..not much point going to an inexperienced recently qualified private dentist i.m.v. but then I'm a complete old fogey thesedays and yes the policemen do look young already!

 

[madsteph]

Hiya,

Me again! I suppose I just wanted answers to the title really. I'm seriously thinking about sedation - I'm far too jumpy and anxious when I get in that chair but I've never been under so I don't know what it's like.

Has anyone else been sedated? Not too bothered about the needle going in my arm - just wondering whether you feel any pain whilst you're under. If you do how do you alert the dentist to stop if you're only half there?!

 

[Snowball]

You have a local anaesthetic as well, which works better with sedation, apparently - maybe because you're more relaxed.

I had 2 hours' worth of work done with IV 2 weeks ago and about the first half of the surgery I can't remember at all. Like you, I'm un-bothered by needles, just was freaked out by dentistry! So the initial thing was nothing - didn't have numbing gel, didn't feel it was worth it when needles don;t particularly hurt anyways. I can remember a few minutes after the sedation started - as I had a very high pulse/blood pressure (sheer terror!) but they soon fixed that, and for the first part of the surgery I don;t remember what happened.

The second half, I felt wide awake, knew what was going on, can recall most of it, but felt relaxed and thought I'd ask for more sedation if I started to need it - but to my surprise, didn't. Had some deep fillings and felt not a thing. Nothing. Nada. I remember the local anaesthetic needles - but totally painless. Was aware of most of what went on - drilling, etc - but just felt nothing at all.

I could have asked for more local or more sedation at any point - was capable of moving, etc so could have used a pre-arranged signal to stop the dentist or been perfectly capable of communicating in any way, if I'd needed to. But didn't - because the procedures were painless.

Knowing what I now know, having had treatment from an excellent dentist (who is also qualified to administer IV sedation), it bothers me reading anyone has had pain, or felt a needle going in - as Brit and Annie say - nothing routine should be painful. If that dentist hurt you - don't go back to them. Some dentists use anaesthetists to administer the IV, others are qualified to administer IV themselves. Either is good, no doubt. Am glad mine did the latter, as she was the one 'in my face' - not an anaesthetist standing some distance off, monitoring equipment - so could calibrate what she was doing precisely, so I was 100% comfortable throughout, and the depth of sedation was reduced skillfully with the less 'serious' procedures, by the end, so I could tackle my phobia too. Also it's cheaper if they're not paying an extra person's wages - have seen people here quoted much higher price for the same treatment I got, and the only different factor has been my dentist did the IV herself - so think that must be a costing factor.

I know beforehand I wanted to be out of it, wake up and have no memory of anything - but that would not have tackled my phobia - I had a history of 20 years dentist dodging after a successful experience with General Anaesthetic which was a breeze at the time but ultimately did me no favours, as it didn't address my phobias. With the sedation, I was out of it for the harder part, and more and more aware later on by which time it was just obvious that the local anaesthetic was so good, I couldn't feel the procedures anyway! Especially if they're working close to a nerve, I think you need to find someone who puts it out there that they work with anxious/phobic patients and or is confident enough to advertise 'painless dentistry'. You should not have felt anything.

Hope that helps.

 

[Winger]

I'm not afraid of needles or pain, but gag violently and easily. The past three dentist visits for an implant (2 visits) and a routine cleaning/exam were accomplished with IV Sedation for the implant work and Nitrous Oxide for the cleaning. My oral surgeon and general dentist both agree that me being under sedation is the best for both of us! Since I "discovered" IV Sedation and Nitrous Oxide, I don't fear going to the dentist.

Skilled dentists and modern anesthesia make the process much easier!