Wisdom teeth: what kind of anaesthetic was my dentist talking about?

Question

When I went to the dentist back in May, he said I would probably have to get my wisdom teeth removed in early 07' because there is "not much room". He said that I wouldn't be put to sleep, but I would still have an IV. I thought that you only get the IV when you are going to be put to sleep? Also, I just went back to the dentist for my check-up, like 3-4 weeks ago, and he didnt say anything about my wisdom teeth. One is already half-way through, the other three are close to coming through. The one that is already somewhat through gives me pain every so often and the other three just feels like alot of pressure. I want to see if I can get them out sooner, but I really dont want to be put to sleep for the surgery. If my other three don't erupt by Dec/Jan, then can I still have the local anaesthetic? Thanks

Answer 1

He was probably referring to what is known as "twilight sleep"(or as it is sometimes known, iv conscious sedation), you will be awake, but you will be possibly be given a medication combo of a benzodiazepine drug like Midazolam(Versed) with an add on of an opiate like Nubaine, Fentanyl, Morphine, or Demoral. This type of sedation is different than general anesthesia because you will still be technically awake. However, this will allow you to go through the procedure with minimal discomfort. You will also still be given a local anesthetic. If you have a competent dentist your vital signs will be monitored throughout the procedure(make sure of that). Also, I would not recommend going through this procedure with a local anesthetic alone if the wisdom teeth are impacted, or if there is any other type of complication. If your wisdom teeth are giving you pain, tell your dentist! The procedure is not that bad. You will also probably be sent home with a prescription for a minor oral opioid analgesic like codeine or hydrocodone for pain.

I hope this helps a bit, good luck!

Answer 2

I had my wisdom teeth taken out the year before last. All four at the same time, for the same reason, mouth too small. It hurt like hell. They put me under, but not all the way. I could still talk to them even though I don't remember. The do it so it doesn't hurt as much. I wouldn't have done it any other way. You might was to make sure of which kind of anaesthetic they are using, because not all work that great on your body. When I had surgery on my foot, they gave me something that made me sick and I cried hysterically. All I did for 2 days was sleep, wake up get sick, and cry, then fell back asleep. Some of them have some weird side effects. I had to mention to my dentist that my wisdom teeth were hurting again before he checked them for a year. Maybe you should mention your concerns to him/her. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

A little info I think should be considered about this drug Versed ( Midazolam ) that is used for Sedation for many medical procedures..Sedation and General Anesthesia are not the same and quite a few people being given Sedation
think they are being given General Anesthesia!

There is simply no good or valid reason to ever purposely induce amnesia during a medical procedure. It is only a recent development in medical thinking that amnesia is somehow a "benefit" to the patient. On occasion some
some patients will remember a bad experience. Forgetting does not mean it did not happen!!
I feel that if people were aware of the effects of this drug they would Opt For Another Drug!
Erasing someones memory of what was done to them is wrong!!
In fact, many people who use Versed for " IV Sedation,Conscious Sedation" Twilight Sedation, during a procedure are Awake For The Entire Procedure but remember nothing, often Believing They Were "Out" the whole time.

Versed (Midazolam) is an amnestic. It is also commonly used for minor procedures like setting broken bones,colonoscopies,endoscopies, dental procedures like extractions,conscious sedation,twilight sleep, so that patients won't remember pain and discomfort.HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE SENSATIONS WILL NOT BE EXPERIENCED!!!!


Here is a note from a Dentist Who uses Versed
I've used Versed 1000+ times during oral surgery procedures and I've never had a complaint. It's a miracle drug because it is safe and it causes you to not remember an unpleasant experience. My answer to him is isn't it better to have not experienced the pain than to have forgot it. No wonder you have had no complaints they have no memory of the procedure.....

I feel that giving a drug for amnesia is cruel I would not want it done to me!

A strange development in medical thinking that it's okay for a patient to have
pain as long as they don't remember it and think they slept thru the procedure..


Here is a link for some info

http://www.freehelpforcancer.com/manages...

Answer 4

To the person who commented that dentists take out wisdom teeth to make extra money:

Oral surgery for general dentists is not a profitable procedure, nor is it a practice builder. Conventional training is for general dentists to refer out 3rd molars.

Most specialists are trained in administration of anesthetic, or they can have a licensed anesthesiologist come to the office to monitor the patient. "Twilight sleep" mentioned above, means you are under light sedation and will wake up easily when the procedure is finished. An alternative would be oral sedation, where you take a relaxing drug such as Halcion. You would be awake, but wouldn't care much what was happening and would not remember either.

Many people have their wisdom teeth out with only local anesthetic. Unless they are all impacted and difficult, that's the way I'd want to go.

Answer 5

I'm an anesthesiologist. Dentists can put you to sleep for oral surgery, but you might want to know that most of them have very limited training in anesthesia. If you DO have an anesthetic (general or sedation), make sure they have all of the monitors designated as standard by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and that they are ACLS certified. If not, opt for the local.

That being said, it seems that whenever a dentist encounters a wisdom tooth, the knee-jerk reaction is "that has to come out". Their logic is that they "might cause trouble someday". If we used that logic in medicine, there wouldn't be a person alive with an appendix, gall bladder or tonsils. Of course, if they ARE causing trouble, have them out. Just don't forget that it hurts when teeth come in. (Ask any baby)

If the teeth are coming in, there should be no reason why you can't have them out with just local anesthetic (injection to numb the teeth/gums/etc.) If they aren't bothering you, why go asking for the pain and expense of having them out?

Just my $0.02

Answer 6

Your dentist will refuse to do the procedure if you refuse an anesthetic. The pain would be excruciating. I know, because I once had a tooth removed, and the area was so inflamed that it could not be frozen, no matter how much Novocaine was put into it. My parents refused to allow me to be put to sleep for the procedure, because 30 years earlier, when my dad was in high school, one of his friends had been put to sleep at a dentist's office, and had died in the chair. I shall never forget that excruciating agony, and I shall never forgive my parents for their stupidity and cruelty in putting me through it. You absolutely need a local anesthetic (Novocaine shots) before having this done. I've never heard of someone retching for ages after getting Novocaine. Are you sure you don't mean another form of anesthetic, like laughing gas or a general anesthetic? Many people are very nauseous and may even vomit after having a general anesthetic to put them completely under. Discuss your concerns with your dentist ahead of time. Together, you can come up with a plan to deal with this.

Answer 7

The IV would only erase your memory of what was going on. You could care less about what was happening to you. It is like a happy drug.
As for the wisdom teeth if they are impacted get them out by an oral surgeon. Maybe a Maxofacial doc would do it as well. I had 4 done at once and was OK. Bring someone with you to take you home afterwards. Lots of luck

Answer 8

Go see an oral surgeon for a consultation--there is usually no charge. Yes they can put you to sleep for the extractions. You can also ask for nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and local anesthesia (numbing injections) if you don't want to be put under. I would recommend just having the IV sedation that way you can go to sleep, wake up and it is done. Put ice packs on on your face right away it will help with pain as well as swelling. Also take your pain medication before the numbness wears off that helps too.

Answer 9

typically when they remove wisdom teeth they put you to sleep with laughing gas (NO2) and also run an IV. ive never heard of only doing a local for them.

if your dentist said you needed them out, but hasnt said anything since, say something about it. mine were supposed to come out when i was 15, but since the dentist never mentioned them again (and i didnt bring it up because i didnt want it done) it wasnt until i was 20 that they came out. (which caused the surgery to be much longer and more difficult.

Answer 10

[WISDOM TEETH ARE FUNNY LITTLE CRITTERS, JUST THINK, FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GETTING THEM W/O ANY PROBLEMS. IF AN ORTHODONTIST HAS TOLD YOU YOU TO HAVE THEM OUT FOR BRACES (BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT SPACE) THEN BY ALL MEANS HAVE THEM OUT. HOWEVER, IF THEY DON'T BOTHER YOU AND YOU ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEM CLEAN, THEN DON'T HAVE THEM OUT.
DON'T FORGET WHAT YOU SAID, "probably have to get my wisdom teeth removed..." SEE, HE WASN'T ABSOLUTELY SURE? YOU'RE TEETHING WITH THE OTHERS THAT ARE YET NOT COMPLETELY OUT, AND PUTTING SOME ORAJEL OR AMBESOL OVER THE SORE SPOTS WILL HELP A BUNCH. YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE LOCAL ANESTHETIC.