IV Sedation Doesn't Work.... what now?

gogo · 13-11-2017 1:37am #1

Hi, I have a fierce phobia of anything dental related... after years and years of neglect I Finally plucked up the courage and visited the dentist.. actually two dentists as the first one was truly awful, despite advertising that he specialised in nervous patients, it took 6mths to work up the courage to go again.... anyway, the2nd dentist went over my options and was really great and together we decided that the only way I was going to get anything done was with IV Sedation.

I needed several teeth out and a lot of fillings, I was terrified going in but no tears and bam I was out like a light. I woke up after what felt like only 5 mins later and my husband brought me home and I was delighted with myself.... but that night my husband told me that the dentist had a really hard time with me and would find it very hard to work on me for any delicate work, such as Fillings etc... I seeminly fought him every step of the way and cried and shook my way through the extraction despite being sedated. I don't remember any of it. I plucked up the courage to go back, and he managed the rest of the extractions but again said that there is very little chance of him being able to do any fillings. I was a little better than the first time but still pretty bad.... where do I go from here?? I need to get this work done, it took a lot to make it into the chair in the first place.. I feel like if I wasn't told how bad I was I'd probably be ok, but I do realise the dentist has a duty of care to inform me of what happened.
Apologies for the long post, wondering has anyone else gone through this... if I took a Valium before being sedated would it help, is my sub conscious that stong or is it adrenaline kicking in? Any advice greatly appreciated x

Dianthus · 13-11-2017 1:01pm

Have you tried CBT or acupuncture in order to overcome the phobia?
Long-term, it's not practical to medicate into your 70s& 80s. Even if you're planning on wearing full dentures, they need dental visits also.

gogo · 13-11-2017 5:56pm

Dianthus wrote: »

Have you tried CBT or acupuncture in order to overcome the phobia?
Long-term, it's not practical to medicate into your 70s& 80s. Even if you're planning on wearing full dentures, they need dental visits also.

Thanks for the reply, I will look into tackling the phobia as well.. hopefully it won't come to needing dentures, they will end up being posted in for a check up

Thinking surely I can't be alone in this, I believe general anaesthetic is not advisable so not sure what to do in the short term..

NutmegGirl · 13-11-2017 6:01pm

How about hypnotherapy? I'd imagine this is exactly the type of situation it could be valuable for

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 13-11-2017 6:53pm

If the IV sedation is not working for you, you might try inhalation sedation, its milder but in combination with a comprehensive course of desensitization appointments and a slow treatment plan progression it can work to allow you to have dental treatment without chemical crutches.

You need to find a good dentist that has experiance with extremely nervous patients to work with you on this.

IV Sedation Doesn't Work.... what now?

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