What does conscious sedation feel like?

[kaybee]

I have to get a root canal done along with a gum surgery all in the same appointment. Since I am terrified of the dentist (mostly about losing control), I will be put under conscious sedation. It's a two hour procedure. I'm very scared, nervous, petrified, etc.... you get the point. I've had general anesthesia before when I had my wisdom teeth removed. Is twilight/iv conscious sedation similar at all? I just want it to pass in five seconds. I really don't want to feel like I'm losing control and can't do anything about it. Please give as detailed answers/experiences as possible. I'm really scared right now. My appointment is in 10 days. I'm counting down the days. Am I crazy or what?

 

[AlexW]

Hi, I had conscious sedation recently for a complicated root canal and can honestly say it was the most stress-free dental experience ever. To be honest I was not keen on the sound of being 'conscious' and couldn't imagine what it would be like, even after the dentist explained it all. I am petrified of needles so for me that was the worst bit but it was actually no worse than any other injection and over very quickly. I had it in my hand and although I couldn't watch, it wasn't actually too bad. After that the dentist put some saline in to wash the line through I think, and then slowly put the drug in. None of it hurt at all. I didn't feel anything happen straight away but relaxed in the chair with the nurse chatting to me. Then I started to feel very sleepy.
The next thing I remember is feeling like I had woken up from a long sleep. I remember stretching and the dentist asked me to keep still for one more minute. He was still doing something in my mouth but I was totally relaxed and wasn't bothered at all. This must have been at the very end of the session because shortly after he raised the chair and helped me to my feet. I was a bit wobbly but otherwise fine, and was free to go once I could turn around in a circle without falling over!What amazed me was the fact that I was in the chair for 1 1/2 hours but it felt like 10 minutes. I know you are told that while sedated you will be able to respond to questions and follow requests, but the amnesiac effect means you cant remember doing any of those things. To me it felt like I had been totally asleep the whole time apart from a few minutes at the end. So try not to worry, you will be absolutely fine and unlike a general you will be back to normal in no time. I would have no hesitation having it again. Keep thinking positive thoughts. x

 

[azure68]

I had oral conscious sedation done a few years ago. I haven't been to a dentist in a very long time as I had really bad experiences when I was younger. The amalgam filling in one of my first molars had cracked (because of age) and was causing pain. I decided to try out a sedation dentist for my needs. When I went in, she mentioned that I needed a deep cleaning (root planing & scaling) and several fillings with pulp caps.

I remember going into the office with instructions of no food or water after midnight the night before the appointment. She had scheduled me for 9am since I was going to be sedated. I didn't know what to expect, as I was internally freaking out that I would wake up in the middle of the procedure. They sat me down and I was running through all the scenarios of what could go wrong in my head. She gave me a pill or 2, I can't remember which, and some crushed powder to put under my tongue, along with some water to drink.

I waited for what seemed to be about 5-10 minutes and she came by and gave me a portable cd player with headphones with soothing music. I remember listening to the music, starting to drift off. The next thing I knew, I woke up in my own bed at home and it was around 8pm.

I couldn't believe it. My mouth felt great and the swelling of my gums from the deep cleaning was minimal. By the next day, I felt totally fine. My husband was my ride getting there and back. He said that I was ready to be picked up in less than 2 hours. The whole procedure itself was very stress free. I stressed myself out worrying about it before the appointment.

 

[carole]

Kaybee please don't stress out about the drugs your dentist is going to use they are very safe when handled by the dentist. Concentrate on the positive replies you have had on here and don't worry.

You will be 100% safe and although I haven't had the sedation I have had a root canal, they are not as bad as people think. I would much rather have an RCT than a filling any day, there is very little drilling, it is very quiet and relaxed. There is no pain at all. I am sure your dentist will have your comfort first and foremost in mind.

They do these procedures every day and are very used to doing them, you will be fine. Try not to stress too much, I look forward to hearing how well it went

P.S. here are some IV sedation stories from forum members:

IV Sedation Experiences

Read about IV sedation experiences which people have shared on Dental Fear Central over the years!

www.dentalfearcentral.org

 

[vicki]

Hi kaybee,

As Carole has said; please don't worry about having conscious sedation. It's very safe and your dentist will have the necessary training to make sure that you're well looked after and that everything will go exactly as it should.

You were wondering whether conscious sedation is similar to general anaesthesia. I've had both general anaesthetics and IV sedation a few times, so I can tell you what it felt like for me. It is different, but from your point of view of how it will feel; it's pretty much the same.

Although you're still conscious during sedation, because of the way that the drugs work, you won't remember being conscious (if that makes sense!). From your point of view, if you're having IV sedation, it will feel very similar to having a general anaesthetic. Once they inject the drugs, you might not feel any different or you might feel a bit drowsy or hazy for a few seconds... and then a few seconds later you're 'waking up' and everything is finished. You don't usually remember or have any awareness of the bit in between .

Please don't be worried about having root canal treatment either; although it usually takes longer and is a bit more complicated than having an ordinary filling, they will make sure that it's very numb, so you shouldn't feel anything. I've had seven root canals and once the numbing injections had taken effect, I didn't feel a thing .

 

[kaybee]

Going in tomorrow morning at 7:30. Took 10 mg diazepam and dentist told me to take another diazepam one hour prior to appointment. Still scared out of my mind, but I know that when it's all over I will be relieved. I will post update abd success story afterwards. Part of me really wants to cancel the appointment and the other part of me says no way haha. I almost don't want to go to sleep right now because the appointment will only come sooner if I sleep. Anyway I will update tomorrow! Wish me luck.

 

[azure68]

Good luck with your appointment. Please keep us posted.

 

[kaybee]

I was so scared when I arrived that it took me a while to just get out of the car. I was crying a little, but was shaking a lot. They called my name and they could see how nervous I was, but I knew I had to do it. The man in charge of the sedation worked at my pace with me and took everything slowly, step by step. I really appreciated that. Then when he slowly starting putting the drugs in the iv and I didn't feel anything at first but the shaking stopped and I slowly started feeling sleepy. When I was pretty much out, I could feel the novacaine going in and the something being put in my mouth to keep it open. and then after that I don't remember much. I do remember waiting for the second dentist to come in for the gum surgery, but I missed most of it and woke up towards the end when he was stitching me up and I was done!

I was so nervous before.. crying and shaking. but it was such an awesome experience! I will post a success story in the success story forum thank you for all your support everyone.

 

[azure68]

Glad to hear that it worked out! At least this part is behind you now.

 

[carole]

Congratulations I am also glad it worked out for you WELL DONE