Terrified of getting a filling + laughing gas

[ashlynrose]

Hi, I'm going to get a couple of cavities filled on Monday (tomorrow) that are in between my teeth. I have had a history of extreme anxiety to the point of panic attacks at the dentist because of some experiences when I was younger, so now I go to a dentist that does air abrasion fillings, which are much less nerve-racking for me. But, when he found the cavities in between the teeth, he said I couldn't get air abrasion and would need a drill filling for this.

I haven't had a drill cavity filling since I was maybe 8 years old, because of the trauma the needle and whole experience caused me, so my dentist said I could get laughing gas, but I've also never had this!! I just don't know what the experience is gonna be like...I kinda just want to be knocked out by the gas and not remember anything, but I'm scared I will still be aware and my anxiety will take over.

I am also taking ativan (lorazepam) before my appt to calm my anxiety down, does anyone have experience with this??? I'm just terrified I will feel the needle and the drill and have had crippling anxiety about this for weeks.

Thank you so much!!!!

 

[needlephobic]

I’m not to sure how helpful I am since my fears are so similar to yours and I’ve yet to totally overcome them, but I do have some suggestions that may help. I’ve never had laughing gas before as my office doesn’t have the licence to offer it, but it has been suggested to me as something that would be helpful if I was open to going elsewhere (which I’m not!!). I have taken Ativan prior to medical procedures though and I find it definitely takes the edge of the anxiety off. Personally, I’m still pretty aware of what’s going on when I take it (low dose) but I find it really helps with the physical symptoms that come along with my anxiety (like shaking and trouble breathing). One thing I find helps me a lot with the freezing is if they put numbing jel on the area before giving the needle. I to had some pretty traumatic experiences as a kid (and even an adult) with freezing and going to the dentist in general, but knock on wood, I haven’t felt a single thing since seeing a new dentist who always uses the gel with me. It also helps me if they talk to me throughout the procedure, especially when it’s totally unrelated and give my mind something else to focus on. I hope this helps even just a little. Best of luck!

 

[MountainMama]

I have had both Ativan and laughing gas. I had laughing gas with extractions and it helped a LOT. I also had traumatic experiences as a kid and was extremely nervous about being aware of the situation. The gas will not knock you out but it will make you not care. Basically it makes you able to “check out” and if you close your eyes you can kinda hear what is going on but it is like in a dream. If you want you can focus and tune in or you can just kind of drift. I have had it multiple times and from my experience if they do not turn it up high enough (and they usually start low) you won’t get the dream like effect but it will still calm you down. The way I can tell it is working is that my legs start to feel heavy and then it feels like that moment right before you fall asleep when you could wake up and be aware but don’t want to. If you don’t feel like it is working make sure you ask them if they can turn it up to a higher titration. Also do not breathe through your mouth or it won’t work.

 

[Enarete]

Hi ashlynrose,

well done on tackling this! I can imagine how scary this is. If you drink alcohol, then laughing gas may feel like if you had two beers (that's how we used to describe it to the patients in the practice I worked at): you are somewhat aware and somewhat there, but you do not really care. I've seen people who were super terrified of the dentist but were able to do the whole treatment with laughing gas.

We have a good article about what to expect here:

Inhalation Sedation

Inhalation sedation, also known as laughing gas, is popular for dental procedures. Find out what it feels like and how it works!

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Fingers crossed for today, may all go well and let us know how it was! You got this!

 

[ashlynrose]

Hi ashlynrose,

well done on tackling this! I can imagine how scary this is. If you drink alcohol, then laughing gas may feel like if you had two beers (that's how we used to describe it to the patients in the practice I worked at): you are somewhat aware and somewhat there, but you do not really care. I've seen people who were super terrified of the dentist but were able to do the whole treatment with laughing gas.

We have a good article about what to expect here:

Inhalation Sedation

Inhalation sedation, also known as laughing gas, is popular for dental procedures. Find out what it feels like and how it works!

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Fingers crossed for today, may all go well and let us know how it was! You got this!

Thank you all so much!!! It was a success! You were right, the laughing gas made me feel realllly floaty, and kind of out of it. At some points, I felt like I was dreaming, or that I could really just sit back and fall asleep. I didn't feel a thing at all! and the dentist and his assistant were both so nice and patient, even as I cried a little bit when I was getting the Novocain, he was dabbing my tears away with some cotton ? after that, I have little memory honestly of the whole experience and how much time passed, but now that I've experienced how good I felt on it and how relaxed i was, I'm not afraid to get my wisdom teeth out!!! Thanks again everyone!!!