Do you think I should be completely knocked-out for the following procedure?

Question

On the 14th of November, I am scheduled to have 2 teeth extracted, one is my bottom back molar (which was a root canal gone bad) and the other is an upper tooth near the front.

I was told it's going to cost me $350.00 just to be knocked out.
That doesn't include the cost for extractions.

My question is, Do I shell out $350.00 just to be knocked out?
Have any of you ever had a molar extracted without being knocked out? If so does it hurt? And how brutal are the dentists while doing this procedure? Is the noise to much to bare?

Help!!!!

Answer 1

I had two taken out, one they said would be easy and the other hard. They got going, using a chisel and hammer, then started to pry. I could hear the bone cracking. I started thinking "wow, if that's the easy one, I don't know how I'll take the hard one" They started on the other side, and I was getting ready to brace myself when they said I could go. "Not taking that one out?" I asked, and they told me they already had. I didn't notice.

So unless one is in there sideways, go for just being numbed out. Much safer.

I don't know your age, but they gave me a pain-killer prescription and told me to keep cold compresses on my cheeks and rinse my mouth out with salt water. I found a good cold six-pack did just as good and was a lot cheaper than a trip to the pharmacy.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Some people would do ok awake and other people would do better with the sedation. The surgery you describe is probably not a big deal in itself.

The best indicator to tell how a patient would do is to ask how nervous they are. I know that seems like an oddly simple question, but usually people know in the back of their minds when they walk in the door which way they really want to go. I have never seen a patient who was nervous regret being sedated, and I have seen many patients who regretted not being sedated who didn't want to pay for the anesthesia.

How difficult the procedure is depends on a lot of factors and it is hard to tell just from the description. What the other person wrote about a root canal treated tooth is correct. It will probably fracture into smaller pieces and need to be removed surgically. It will probably be less of a big deal to sit through than a root canal though. Another important factor is your age. The older you get, the harder the bone gets and the more fused to the bone the tooth gets. This is not exactly scientifically what happens but I am simplifying it for this answer. So what that means is if you are above 30 years old, it may take longer to extract.

What the person wrote about Halcion I don't agree with. Oral sedation agents and even the nitrous laughing gas are not that effective with extractions if the person is really nervous. It can take a little of the edge off for something like a teeth cleaning, but it won't do enough for someone really scared. The general anestheisa or IV sedation to knock you out is really the effective thing if you are nervous and undergoing an extraction.

I can usually tell in the first two minutes of talking to a patient if they would do better awake or asleep. I would trust the recommendation of the oral surgeon doing your surgery or get another opinion.

Answer 3

Only you can determine what's best for you and how well you can handle the pressures of dental tools in your mouth. If you are used to frequent dental visits with only being numbed, then it's just another procedure. If the thought of drilling, chiseling, pulling, etc. bothers you, then perhaps it'll be best to be knocked out. If the finances are tight, talk to the dentist and ask if you can make payments or work out another deal. They usually understand are are willing to help.

I had all four wisdom teeth extracted at once and only used numbing. The constant pressure on your jaw will cause them to be sore and tight which could last for days or weeks, depending on the extent.

Answer 4

Really you don't need IV sedation for the procedure, but if you think you would like to have it, then go for it. Be sure to have someone drive you to your appointment cuz you won't be able to drive home. IV sedation is expensive, you could ask if they offer nitrous oxide. It doesn't completely knock you out, it just takes the edge off and relaxes you it is cheaper too. In my office it runs $50. If you choose not to have anything other than general anesthetic, I suggest you take your iPod with you. You can listen to music while you have the procedure, that helps with drowning out all the different sounds of the extraction.

Answer 5

plain All you need is anesthesia. How much does that cost ? ask your dentist. Whenever I have one tooth extracted it takes 4 shots to really take effect on me to be really painless since I am the nervous type. But in your case since the teeth are in 2 different areas and maybe your dentist wants you not to suffer twice the agony of the extraction he suggested the knock out procedure. For me I wouldn't want that procedure. Too much anesthesia makes you forgetful.

Answer 6

Go for the knock-out for two reasons...

There are things they can do when you're "out" that will make the recovery easier and your jaw less sore plus there's no reason to subject yourself to the stress, which is also unhealthy. Besides... there's no way of knowing up front if there will be complications. Just the fact that you're asking indicates to me that you should be out cold.

I had all four wisdom teeth extracted at the same time and was out for the procedure. I woke up like I had been asleep. I'd do it that way again in a nano-second.

Good luck to you!

Answer 7

When I was a teenager I chose to go into the hospital and have my four wisdom teeth removed under general anesthesia. It was well worth it, because I didn't want to remember anything. It might have been covered by my parents' insurance at the time, I don't know.
If you're not insured you'll have to pay for the anesthetist to knock you out as well as the dental work. If the anesthetist does their job properly, you won't feel a thing.

Answer 8

Actually, $350 for general anesthesia sounds cheap. At most oral surgeons, it starts about $500 and goes up.

Unless your molar is impacted and difficult, you might do better with local numbing and a relaxing oral medication such as Halcion. You will be very mellow and probably won't remember much about the appointment.

Many people have molars removed without general anesthetic. Good dentists are never "brutal". If they were, they wouldn't be very busy.

Answer 9

usually been knocked out its more for extracting the wiesdom teeth especillay when are unerupted or partially erupted and for is really scred of needles , kids for example , but for only two teeth i dont see any point in spending so much money in put it for sleep, i would ercommend you without , its not gonna be end of the world , any surgical intervention in our body hurts , its normal , its up to you how low or high tolerance to pain you have .
So if you are not having fear of needles go and have it done and after you can go home and relax , sleep, and after the freezing is gone because they gonna freeze you in that area , you gonna feel a bit but not that much , any pain killer are good , use one that works for you the best.
Godd Luck !!!!!!

Answer 10

i had one of my upper wisdom teeth extracted and it was not a big deal, of course i have no fear of the dentist either. mine was in good too, she had trouble getting it out because my bone is good, but it didn't take to long. you just have to decide how you would feel more comfortable, if you have anxiety about the dentist then get knocked out it will be less stressful. i have alot more fear of being put under than of anything else, so i won't undergo anesthesia unless i absolutely have no choice