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RedDeerGuy1's avatar

Should I get i.v. sedation for dental work?

Asked by RedDeerGuy1 (24986points) July 29th, 2017

It would cost me $600 and I am wondering if I should get it? The vibration from the drill causes me grief. I have 8 cavities. I could save a lot by not getting the work done or not having i.v. sedation.
Can you tell me your experience with Intravenous Conscious Sedation? I would have to put it on my credit card. Would I be asleep while getting i.v. sedation?

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19 Answers

chyna's avatar

Please flag me since I’m going off topic here, but I understand your feelings on this as I used to be the same way. The dentist I went to gave me Dental Nitrous Oxide. It calmed and relaxed me without putting me to sleep. I think it would be much cheaper. Check with your dentist to see if he offers this.
I did get put to sleep last summer to have a tooth pulled. It was pricey and it took only 3 minutes to have it pulled. A big waste of money, but I was so nervous about getting it pulled that I insisted on being put under.

Call_Me_Jay's avatar

Another vote for gas. My ex would get gas just for teeth cleaning, a dentist gives her so much anxiety that she wants to be flying high, no matter what the procedure.

You only get one set of teeth in your adult life. Get that dental work done! One of the greatest advantages of living in the modern world.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

I“m not the one to ask I’ve had teeth pulled with only Novicaine. But gas is certainly an option.

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

@all Still on the fence. I can save a quick $600 by not getting it. I can’t afford right now.

Coloma's avatar

My daughter is dental phobic and needed major sedation to have her wisdom teeth pulled. She was so resistant they had to give her the maximum amount of sedatives to get her to go down to pull the teeth. The dentist was amazed that she just wouldn’t go down, I joked about a tranquilizer gun. haha The drilling for a cavity is usually not a long process but if you are that stressed then yes, obviously, nitrous oxide or other sedatives would be in your best interest.
I just had 2 old fillings drilled out and replaced in the same appt. with just novicaine but I am not dental phobic.

Its not a great time but it’s not horrible either.
I’d suggest doing two at a time and that will lessen the need for all the appointments. Ask your dentist but if the teeth needing fillings are on the same side of your mouth they may be able to do them in tandom, kill two cavities with one shot. haha

Zaku's avatar

I had it for wisdom teeth (4) removal, which I was deathly afraid of. I fell asleep before I could count backwards more than a few numbers, spent a short time in a warm fluffy cloud dream, and woke up happy and it was all over. I loved it. If it were cavities, I’d tough it out, but I’m not you.

snowberry's avatar

Another far less expensive option is to have the dentist prescribe you a prescription for oral sedation. I’ve tried it and it works.

LuckyGuy's avatar

Over 30 years ago, I had my wisdom teeth removed and had I.V. sedation. He said “count back from 100.” . I said “100, 99, wow, just like in the movies. And when I woke up my mouth was packed – and my underwear was backwards. (Obviously kidding about the last part.).
I would only do it for something serious that takes a long time.

Lightlyseared's avatar

No. Dentists are famous for being heavy handed with the stuff and having “accidents”.

LostInParadise's avatar

I thought Canada had socialized medicine. Eight cavities is a lot of cavities. You should definitely have the work done. When was the last previous time you went to the dentist?

I can’t advise you regarding sedation, since I have always used novocaine. If you really can’t handle the vibrations of the drill then sedation would be the only option.

johnpowell's avatar

I have had over 8 cavities filled in one sitting. I think it was actually 11. Headphones and the gas and you are set. They go pretty fast.

I did get the needle when I got my wisdom teeth out. My sister was present when he yanked my wisdom teeth and she said that he really “had to put his back into it” and that it looked pretty violent and she was glad I was asleep.

But a few fillings isn’t bad. Gas + Headphones + Close your eyes.

And don’t put this shit off. I let a little cavity go to long and then it turned into a root canal which I couldn’t afford so I had the tooth yanked.

RocketGuy's avatar

I have redundant nerve paths, so need extra shots for dental work. I hated dental work until one dentist realized that and started using a Ligmaject. Just ask for a “Ligmaject” or equivalent, and you will feel no pain for a lot less $$$.

snowberry's avatar

Before you get a ligamajet, read this. It works in some cases, not all, and not on the lower jaw.

https://bitemagazine.com.au/ligmaject/

trailsillustrated's avatar

< is a retired board certified dentist- no not for fillings. Ask for nitrous, or have your dentist prescribe Valium .5 mg one hour before the appointment. About the ligmajet- they are for use in the little ligament for pulpal anaesthesia. They are more appropriate for root canals than fillings, but they do work great and in certain stubborn instances they’re the ticket! They are for single tooth/areas use so for a lot of fillings a nerve block is better. You’ll be fine, @RedDeerGuy1 and good luck to you.

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

I did it without I.V. sedation. It hurt but I used the money saved to pay off credit card debt. 5 – 10 fillings over 3 or 4 trips to the dentist.

LuckyGuy's avatar

@RedDeerGuy Good for you!!! You made a wise choice.

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RedDeerGuy1's avatar

@all Update I received iv sedation for 1 hours worth of dental work. It didn’t knock me out, but wasn’t painful. I will use it for my crown(s) and root cannal(s).

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