Having a tooth out with sedation

[Proofraider]

My dentist has advised having a tooth taken out with the kind of sedation that they give you if you break a bone i.e. an injection in the hand via a tube that puts you out while the work is being done. I've had this for a broken wrist and it was fine because I was completely out, but my dentist says that with this treatment I'll still be conscious. Has anyone had this done - what was it like?

[squarebear]

I didn't even realise that you could get sedated? The last time I had a tooth out I got an injection into my gum near the tooth then out it came. I was fully awake the whole time and aware of what was going on.

Do they knock you out nowadays?

[PatriciaH]

You are aware of something going on but dont feel a thing..i think i fell asleep when i had it ( im a coward at the dentist ) it takes a few hours for it to wear off , someone has to take you home after treatment cos youl still be groggy ( dentist will make sure you have someone with you ) its really good ... : )

[Proofraider]

I once had a tooth out in the chair with an injection in the jaw, but I had no idea what it would be like and the experience was so awful that I said I wasn't going through that again. My dentist said that he could refer me to a consultant to discuss the sedation option, which is what I'm waiting for, and if I decide to do it I have to visit a different practice where the consultant works. My understanding from looking at BUPA fact sheets about dental fear (on their website) is that you can ask for this. Your dentist should at least be telling you about it (admittedly I'm a private patient - can't find anyone taking NHS in my area). I would've preferred a hospital visit and a general anaesthetic but they really only do that for emergencies or teeth which are difficult to extract, like wisdom teeth can be.

[MrXLA]

You will be conscious, but the drug used has amnesic properties, so you wont really remember much of what is going on.
Sedation is available from certain practices NHS and private alike, however clearly on the NHS, the NHS has to pay for the sedation (which isn't cheap) and therefore few NHS practices are able to offer it.

[joannie10]

know this often gets done for people getting wisdom teeth out. makes you all drowsy and less aware of what is going on. certainly no pain.

[FoxLee]

Sedation is brilliant!! I've had teeth extracted at the dentist with local injections which are fine, you don't feel any pain, but it can be a long process while they gently rock the tooth back and forth then get hold of it and yank it. I decided to have implants to replace two teeth - it was a long, 11 months process which began with the two extractions under sedation. It was done privately in Harley Street and the anaesthetist's fee was �300 for 1� hours' attendance. I wasn't aware of much at all, a babble of voices, someone leaning heavily against my arm - i suppose while she was doing the suction. It was so good that when I had the implants done, I had sedation again. Initially, on coming round, I felt very tired, wanted to keep closing my eyes but that soon wore off and I was chatting on the phone on the way home in the car. You're not really aware of what's going on but you can respond subconsciously to instructions like 'open your mouth'.

[Proofraider]

Thanks, everyone, for all this reassurance! I'm coming round to thinking that this is what I'll have done - still waiting to hear about an appointment.