Terrified of Wisdom Teeth Surgery

[dentalfear180]

I have special needs and am with a special care dentist. They are lovely. However, recently they did an x-ray of my teeth because I complained about wisdom teeth and they thought all four should be removed. I was happy because they cause me a lot of pain.

However, that's about the only thing I'm happy about. Everything else about it is terrifying.

I was wanting to think of ways I could be less anxious or be more reassured or certain over how the day is going to go. I have a pre-op assessment soon and don't know what kind of questions would best be asked.

I'm terrified. Even though I've had so many issues and am in pain constantly, it is still frightening to have so many unknowns about how the surgery will go.

I guess what I'm looking for is help with what things I can ask the nurse or what could I expect on the day. They aren't autism trained but I am getting an autism team hopefully for the actual day of the operation.

I'm worried because they suggested I could have the first appointment of the day so I didn't have to wait but I have chronic fatigue so early morning would be impossible for me. So I took the later time but they said there would be more waiting. That makes me anxious too but I can't get up early in the mornings.

They said they would give me numbing cream on my hand and laughing gas before they put me fully under too, I've never had laughing gas before and the first time being before a general anaesthetic is also different to most people's experience, I suppose. I'm so scared. Can I have some reassurance and some things I should ask at the pre op assessment?

If you need any more info, I can give it. Just feeling scared right now.

 

[Gordon]

Your special care dentist should be able to help you with this, have you spoken to them since you had the hospital appointment?
The staff you’ll be dealing with at the theatre appointment will be far more experienced working with people with additional needs than the staff you’ve encountered in the MaxFac department, which should help you a bit.
Laughing gas is properly known as inhalation sedation. We have a whole page about it here: https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/help/sedation-dentistry/laughing-gas/

 

[dentalfear180]

@Gordon Yes my carer has spoken to them but they aren't as involved with this as it's at the hospital with a different team. They have given me some resources but can't help with specific details as they aren't involved.

The theatre appointment? What do you mean by that sorry? My pre op assessment is gonna be over the phone which I will struggle with as I struggle with phonecalls but my carer will be able to give them any questions. I just worry I won't have my nerves eased enough by things.

I just don't know if the inhalation sedation will be enough to ease my nerves before the general anaesthetic as I've never had it before and so that's another unknown for me.

 

[Gordon]

The theatre appointment? What do you mean by that sorry?

When you go to get your teeth removed.

I just don't know if the inhalation sedation will be enough to ease my nerves before the general anaesthetic as I've never had it before and so that's another unknown for me.

From experience of several thousand general anaesthetics what you'll feel is:
1) A bit of pressure on the back of one of your hands.
2) A cold feeling going up your arm
3) Nothing more until you wake up with everything done
4) Usually we put in some long duration local anaesthetic around extraction sites, the anaesthetist normally adds in some pain relief at the end of the general anaesthetic so you will be quite comfortable when you wake up.

 

[dentalfear180]

@Gordon sorry I meant the inhalation sedation before the general anaesthetic. specifically in this scenario does it make the general anaesthetic less intense and sudden? As the suddenness of the GA is what is scary, so would that help it not be as sudden?
But thank you.
They said I would have local anaesthetic that would last up to 4 hours after the surgery which is good, I just hope I dont bite my tongue in that time lol. Thank you.

 

[Gordon]

It would more likely help with the anxiety of getting the injection into your hand to put the anaesthetic into.

As the suddenness of the GA is what is scary, so would that help it not be as sudden?

I'm not following quite what you mean. Can you explain it a bit better for me?

You won't bite your tongue, generally we just freeze the area around the extraction site, the tongue isn't affected.