Usefulness of taking valium before dental treatment

[InLiverpool]

Hello
After 14 years I have drummed up the courage to visit a dentist and I have just received my dental treatment plan. I will be having a deepclean as I have extensive gum disease and then treatment to fit 2 crowns. I emphasised my fears and phobias and this dentist explained I could be sedated. She didn't push this onto me explaining that it was very costly and I would likely be able to cope without it. After reading this website I now realise that sedation is quite a major procedure - one problem I have is I don't have a person to accompany from the surgery ( or not one I would wish to see in that state).
The deep cleaning with the hygienist will be an hour long session - would a valium prescription from my GP help. I am already in pain from my gums and my past experience of hygienist treatment was very painful.
Any advice would be helpful

 

[carol999]

Hello InLiverpool and to the forum. Well done for managing to face the dentist after 14 years. I would suggest you go and talk different options over with your GP. Sedation is certainly an option - I cant have any work done without it, but if there is any way you can go without it then do because in the end you can get totally dependant on the sedation (like me) and I wouldn't recommend that to anyone. If you do go for sedation then you do have to have someone there with you. I am sorry you have no-one you could ask to go with you. Maybe what we need on the forum is some kind of volunteer 'buddy' system for accompanying people.

 

[franklinm]

Hello
After 14 years I have drummed up the courage to visit a dentist and I have just received my dental treatment plan. I will be having a deepclean as I have extensive gum disease and then treatment to fit 2 crowns. I emphasised my fears and phobias and this dentist explained I could be sedated. She didn't push this onto me explaining that it was very costly and I would likely be able to cope without it. After reading this website I now realise that sedation is quite a major procedure - one problem I have is I don't have a person to accompany from the surgery ( or not one I would wish to see in that state).
The deep cleaning with the hygienist will be an hour long session - would a valium prescription from my GP help. I am already in pain from my gums and my past experience of hygienist treatment was very painful.
Any advice would be helpful

Good for you for working up the courage to go visit the dentist after 14 years. I would think a valium prescription would be useful but it is just meant to take the edge off. Could you ask your dentist about nitrous oxide? No one has to accompany you if you have it, it makes time go by faster and you don't care about what the dentist or hygienist is doing. You could also have the valium with the nitrous oxide. Good luck with your appointment.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Hi In Liverpool

I posted today in the "success" forum, I did my first visit after 12 years today, you can read there but basically I had a vallium (Diazepam) before I went. It really helped. I use to panic attack and had fainted in the chair in the past but the pill I had today really relaxed. I just felt so much better, it certainly will help. Talk to your GP but I would recommend it as it will help relax you.

 

[InLiverpool]

Hi In Liverpool

I posted today in the "success" forum, I did my first visit after 12 years today, you can read there but basically I had a vallium (Diazepam) before I went. It really helped. I use to panic attack and had fainted in the chair in the past but the pill I had today really relaxed. I just felt so much better, it certainly will help. Talk to your GP but I would recommend it as it will help relax you.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. Monte Cristo your experience has reassured me a little - but I still find the idea of an hours treatment extremely daunting. I will visit my GP to get a prescription.

 

[franklinm]

For longer procedures like an hour, nitrous oxide or IV sedation would be better.

 

[littlestar88]

I have alepam usually before cleanings/checkups (its another type of very similar drug as I personally prefer it). The only thing with these drugs are that you are not allowed to drive usually so I don't know if that would be a problem, however its still fine to take public transport and you probably don't need anyone to acompany you. Good luck!

 

[Kim]

I went to my GP and got Diazepam which helped, and then when I had my extractions, my dentist gave me Temazepam to take the night before and the morning of. That put me into a sort of 'slow motion' feeling before I even got into the surgery. I then had iv sedation which was brilliant. It didn't put me into any other state than making me remain in my 'slow motion' feeling once treatment was over, and then I went home and slept on and off for the rest of the day.

Different people have different pain and fear levels, and I would say go with whatever enables you to get your treatment done and achieve a healthy mouth

And very well done for taking that mahoosive step!

Hello
After 14 years I have drummed up the courage to visit a dentist and I have just received my dental treatment plan. I will be having a deepclean as I have extensive gum disease and then treatment to fit 2 crowns. I emphasised my fears and phobias and this dentist explained I could be sedated. She didn't push this onto me explaining that it was very costly and I would likely be able to cope without it. After reading this website I now realise that sedation is quite a major procedure - one problem I have is I don't have a person to accompany from the surgery ( or not one I would wish to see in that state).
The deep cleaning with the hygienist will be an hour long session - would a valium prescription from my GP help. I am already in pain from my gums and my past experience of hygienist treatment was very painful.
Any advice would be helpful