Alternative to anaesthetic injections for Scale/Polish?

gipi

I've got very sensitive gums, and gum disease which requires regular attendance at a hygienist (with the usual annual checkups at the dentist).

I'm not overly nervous as a patient (no more than most), but I can't have proper scaling done without anaesthetic - lots of it! As an example, to clean half of my mouth, I required one major injection block, plus 6 top-up injections because not everywhere had numbed. (the major injection can only be given by the dentist, the top-ups are done by the hygienist).

The last time I visited, the injection procedure was less than smooth (the dentist used numbing gel on my gums, then proceeded to inject at a different site - I had to be peeled off the ceiling!). And I had to go back 2 weeks later to have the other half of my mouth done, so was a bit of a wreck for the 2nd visit (which wasn't as bad, although it still took several injections).

To be honest, I'm reluctant to go through the whole procedure again - so bit of a catch 22 situation, because I know that if I went more often, there would be less cleaning to do!

I've read on some old threads here that anaesthetic by gas isn't really used in the high street any more - has it gone altogether? Would the twilight gas work as an anaesthetic, or is it (as I suspect) a bit like valium, just a relaxant?

Are there any options other than injections, used by dentists in the Louth/Meath/Dublin areas? Or even Newry direction?

Any advice most welcome.

la_lunita

Hi folks,

I just wondered of anyone could offer some advice.

I'm living in Kells since July and I had been seeing and still am seeing a peridontist based in Leeson Street, Dublin. The hygienist that works in the same practice is the hygienist that is carrying out the deep cleans that my teeth require every 3 months.

It's a logistical nightmare getting there and it would be great to be able to attend a hygienist in the Meath are as opposed to going through a relatively stressful spin to and fro plus the cost of getting there and the cost of even parking the car is insanely expensive !

I've made various phone calls to practices around Meath but the reply that I get is that hygienists do basic cleanings.

I have recessive gum disease, it's fairly agressive, it's genetic and it's the type that settles a bit but it will never be cured so I'll be doing this forever. Hence trying to get a really excellent hygienist who is experienced with this type of disease would be really helpful.

I've had an operation on my front gum so there's a chunk of that missing too. One of my front teeth is an implant and I got peri implantitis which resulted in continuous infections and puss leaking, we tried to maintain it through cleanings but it wasn't responding at all; the rest of gums responded really well however.

God I sound like a horror case but it's really not that bad. I'm just looking for a way to maintain my gums and any advice re: hygienists in Meath would be great.

Thanks folks

davo10

la_lunita wrote: »

Hi folks,

I just wondered of anyone could offer some advice.

I'm living in Kells since July and I had been seeing and still am seeing a peridontist based in Leeson Street, Dublin. The hygienist that works in the same practice is the hygienist that is carrying out the deep cleans that my teeth require every 3 months.

It's a logistical nightmare getting there and it would be great to be able to attend a hygienist in the Meath are as opposed to going through a relatively stressful spin to and fro plus the cost of getting there and the cost of even parking the car is insanely expensive !

I've made various phone calls to practices around Meath but the reply that I get is that hygienists do basic cleanings.

I have recessive gum disease, it's fairly agressive, it's genetic and it's the type that settles a bit but it will never be cured so I'll be doing this forever. Hence trying to get a really excellent hygienist who is experienced with this type of disease would be really helpful.

I've had an operation on my front gum so there's a chunk of that missing too. One of my front teeth is an implant and I got peri implantitis which resulted in continuous infections and puss leaking, we tried to maintain it through cleanings but it wasn't responding at all; the rest of gums responded really well however.

God I sound like a horror case but it's really not that bad. I'm just looking for a way to maintain my gums and any advice re: hygienists in Meath would be great.

Thanks folks

The issues you describe are not the type that a hygienist would carry out. If you are in danger of losing an implant/teeth and have had surgical procedures, you really should strongly consider continuing under the care of a periodontist.