Twilight sleep for Extraction! Plz help!

[Guest]

Hi Everyone,
I came here about a week ago telling about a dental appointment I needed to go to. Well, it went well - I liked that dentist - very nice. But I was told to remove this particular tooth as it was not an important one (last tooth!) on the row. Well..... i went to oral surgeon today and was literally laughed at by him and his nurse about my FEARS. They even rolled their eyes to each other. So obviously I dont like them.

Well I called another oral surgeon and got an opinion and I am to go in Thursday to have it removed. They dont do consults - they just do them the same day as the removal - or atleast thats what they're doing for me.

Well, they only offer TWILIGHT Sleep! Its a mix of Versed, Phentanol, and Etenol (I dont know if this is spelled right!). Plus Nitrous Oxide before hand. Well, I am a little nervous about what "Twilight" sleep is. They tried to describe it to me, but you know me.... I listen to ONE thing and thats all I hear. Well this one thing was, "You'll be able to talk to us when asked a question".... well, that doesnt sound like your asleep to me.

However they were VERY VERY NICE. So I will probably go to them.

Now, I called 1 more oral surgeon office and was told, that Twilight Sleep was a waste of time because it did not help. Now, maybe she said this because they only offer General or Nothing. I dont know .... but now I am nervous! She said, with Twilight if you're going to feel something, you'll FEEL IT.

Please help me out here ?? Can anyone tell me a little more about it Please? Thank you!

Any personal experiences with a Twilight? How is it?

Take care!!!!

 

[Guest]

I had several extractions a few years back with only nitrous. It wasn't bad - didn't hurt though I felt it. Kind of hard to explain but there was no pain. Afterwards though was a different story. Make sure you get some pain pills to help deal with the after effects. I don't know much about "twilite" Sp? but I personally would rather be out like a light! Good luck..

 

[Guest]

Great to hear you like your new dentist !!

"Twilight" sleep is actually a marketing term - and like most marketing, it's not entirely accurate, lol ! The correct term for what you've described is "IV conscious sedation". So you will be conscious during the procedure, but you'll feel relaxed and calm. You won't actually be asleep. You will be able to respond verbally, and say if you feel anything, so that the surgeon can make you comfortable. I find it a bit weird that they don't offer anything other than IV sedation, but there do appear to be geographical differences in the way things are approached - so don't take my word for it, lol !

The reason why the marketing people get away with calling it "twilight sleep" is because you remember very little afterwards - so you will *think* you might have been asleep, even though you weren't. This is because the Versed (midazolam) disrupts the ability to form new memories from the time it kicks in to the time it wears off.

Does this make sense?

The reports on this board by people who had IV sedation have been very positive. However, it depends on whether you like the idea or not. It's one of those 50:50 things - some people like the idea of not being "aware" of what's going on, while other people hate the idea (especially if control and trust are a big issue). But even that is only a rough rule of thumb, and there can be exceptions.

There have been a lot of posts about IV sedation in the dentistry questions section of this board, so have a look around !

 

[Guest]

Dear Ms Mandy.

You may take 1/2 your dose at home by pill before getting there... This helps you relax. I couldn't feel it but I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be... My mind wasn't racing to say the least.

First, they will place a monitor on your finger that will monitor your heartbeat and also the oxygen level in your blood. It feels like a band aid over the tip of your finger, only hard plastic.

Then they will give you an IV. The IV is what I was most scared of, (I'm a needle freak!) But it feels like someone pinches you very quickly and that is all... (Really I can't believe how big a deal I made out of something that was so small...)

The drugs start and you get kind of sleepy and they will also have you on oygen through your nose...

Then they start the procedure after about 20 minutes...

I was awake for the whole procedure, I just don't remember much of it. The drugs give you a sort of amnesia effect so you don't remember or care about much of it.

I do remember the doctor have a few hairs standing up and he looked like Alfalfa from The Little Rascals... I also remember looking at the clock on the wall every once in a while amazed that 30 or 40 minutes had gone by since the last time I looked.

You are awake, you just don't care... If you have ever gotten high on Nitrous it is very similar... You could pretty much care less what they are doing and everyone seems to go in slow motion but actual time passes very quickly...

You don't really feel funky or numb, just really sleepy. I know I did fall asleep during the middle of the procedure because they woke me and asked me to turn my head, I turned and I think I fell right back to sleep. (They say I snore) I'm not sure if I believe that but I do know I was asleep.

They woke me up after the procedure and handed me off to my honey who drove me home. I told him to watch out for the lights, that they were very bright.... I also asked him for a stuffed dog that I had as a kid....He had no idea who Scruffers was)

When we got home he practically carried me to the couch... I slept the whole afternoon, evening, and night... I woke up the next day a little swollen and sore.

I had 13 teeth extracted. I now have a healthy beautiful smile and I am so glad that I had the IV Sedation.. I remember little of my experience and as more time has past less and less of it remains.

 

[Guest]

Hello Everyone,
Sorry it took me awhile to come back. I want to THANK You All 3 of you who took the time to respond to me!

Forgive if this doesnt make a whole lot of sense, but I am pretty well medicated right now on Percocet and Advil. I needed it unfortunately!

Well, I had it done Thursday morning, I did pretty good getting there and such, it wasnt until they took me away from my husband that I actually had a lil' "mini" nervous breakdown! They told me they would let him go back with me until I was started on Nitrous and Relaxed. But I got there and I guess they changed their minds -- so I wasnt prepared and lost it! I love my hubby, and dont like being away from him!

Well, they started the IV and I dont think I even felt it because I was busy talking to one of the Nurses and I noticed something in the corner of my eye and looked over and said, Hey! Let me know before you price me so I dont jump.... and they said "Oh well its done!" .. LOL! So, that was nice that I didnt feel it. I didnt even have any pills or nitrous yet, so I dont know why I didnt feel it!

So then they tried to put the Nitrous on me, and I got nervous again - b/c I couldnt remember what to expect so I said, is it ok if I dont use that, and just have straight oxygen, so they were glad to switch the nitrous off and I just took oxygen! I love pure oxygen!

Well they injected something in my IV at this point and I started getting real light-headed and relaxed. I said I am getting dizzy and the nurse said "YES! Isnt that lovely?" ... and I said Yeahhhh I remember laughing a little bit and being told to bite down on something, and when I bit down on it, I could tell my mouth was being held open.

Then, just like out of nowhere I dont remember anymore! It sort of worries me as to why that is! I dont know if I fell asleep, I dont know if I was awake or asleep, I dont know if they even pulled my tooth! LOL. Well I know b/c its missing, but I dont remember a thing. I heard 2 stories, I heard one that I'd be in a Twilight Sleep and be able to respond if need be..... AND I heard that I would be sound asleep and not wake up until I was asked to. So--- I dont know what happened. Im glad though I guess. But, sorta scares me thinking to myself - What happens if I did know and I was scared, but just cant remember???? Weird!

Then, the next thing I remember was sitting on this little couch thing, and I was asking where my husband was everytime someone came into my sight. Then she said OK You ready to go home? I said yes, and they walked me out to the car. Hubby took me to get breakfast I had pancakes! Yummy! They were the softest thing I could think of. Then, I took my Percocet and went to sleep.

Well when I woke up from my nap, the novacaine had warn off and I was in immense pain! Now, Ive had 2 impacted wisdoms pulled and went out that same evening with some friends... I was perfectly fine. Now this is my 2nd day, and Im still in quite a bit of pain, especially if it werent for the Percocet. I called the Dentist and he had me up my dose of Percocet and take 2 Advil with them. So that is helping relieve it some.

Isnt that strange that I had 2 impacted wisdoms removed and no pain, but I had 1 simple adult molar removed and Im in a good amount of pain with this? Just odd....

Well Thank you for listening -- I am glad it is over and I hope to never have to have another tooth pulled in my life! I am going to start making a better effort at going to the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and keep up on things better! It is WORTH it! Dont get yourself into the position I am in. Its not worth it.

If anyone can give me any tips on what to look for and stuff if the area gets bad. Im afraid of a Dry Socket! I hear these are painful. I thought this was what I had, but the dentist said No, that it would take 3-5 days to get one of those. He is telling me I am in pain b/c of my TMJ. I dont know......

Well Thanks again!

PS--Nicole is it? You're smile is beautiful -- Thank you for sharing that. Also, those stuffed Mushrooms on your site --- Delicious sounding!

Thank you!
Mandy

 

[Guest]

Mandy - great to hear it went so well !! Fantastic.

There's a list of things you can do to prevent dry socket stickied on the "Wizzie World" board.

Wishing you a speedy recovery

 

[Guest]

I am so Glad that things went well for you. I told you it was a piece of cake. Those drugs will knock you on your bum won't they! lol.

Dry socket does hurt but I had 11 removed at the same time with no problems so I feel terribly lucky!

The mushrooms are awesome! Thanks for the compliment about the smile... Sometimes it doesn't seem real that I can actually smile again. It took a couple of weeks before I stopped hiding... lol

Good Luck! and Happy Smiles!

Nicole