Dental Sedation?

Question

Hi,

I am a dental assistant, but in a practice where dental sedation is not used. If anyone requires sedation they are referred to a specialist clinic, so do excuse me for not knowing about sedation in dentistry.

Today, I was told that I need two roots removed, but both are not easy for my normal dentist to extract. This is because the only way of getting one of the roots out is to go through the side of my gum. So I am now being referred to a specialist clinic.

I was given 3 options: local anaesthetic, sedation or GI (general anaesthetic). Personally, it sounds quite a painful experience, so I opted for the sedation.

I'm just wondering how exactly sedation is administered and more information about it. Apparently, I will still be conscious during the procedure and will be able to respond.

As dental sedation is not something we offer at the practice I work at, I'm not overly familiar with the technique.

I'd be grateful for any advice anyone can give.

Kind regards.

Answer 1

Sorry but I'm not really sure what your three choices are , I know about the local anaesthetic bit is all about, that has never been a problem for me at the dentist or anywhere else, I also know what GI is, it just means you are out of the picture and you wake up with job done! Now for some reason they want you to be able to respond? I have no intention of even wondering why, but I can only assume that this procedure will be the same as I had a few weeks ago.
At the risk of boring you to death I had a stroke it was discovered that I had an 85% blockage in an artery from the heart to the brain box (to use the full medical terms)!!!!
Now to ensure that I didn't have another stroke during this vein rodding out job I had to remain conscious throughout the operation (5 hours)! So once again I will 'assume' that your job on your gums must be similar.
You will know better than I what a local anaesthetic is all about, well this was very similar, a couple of local injections, that don't hurt at all, they then wait a couple of seconds and spray the area they want 'dead' with that stuff that is like spray on ice, you cant feel anything, they then spray the same stuff on an area they don't want 'dead' you can certainly feel that and they seem very pleased with that result!
Your minor op' will likely only take 10 - 15 minuets and some one will be chatting with you during that time to make sure that you are having a good time! I was almost bored to death!
The real object of my answer is to assure you that there is no pain involved and in your case no risk at all, futher I asked a smilar question about my op' prior to the event on this forum, and recieved many helpful and true replies , one from a nurse wo certainly knew what she was talking about.
If I had suffered any pain at all then belive me I would have told you. I would also have told the surgeon during the op' but it was a doddle!
You have nothing at all to worry about. Go for it!

Answer 2

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 3

Hi My fellow Aspirating Beauty, i am a qualified/Registered dental nurse and used to Sedation on a regular basis with my dentist.
Midazolam is the drug of choice for IV sedation (intravenous sedation) and is administered either in the arm or the back of the hand.
It's also more commonly known as Conscious sedation, as it is a technique in which the use of drugs such as Midazolam will produce a state of depression of the central nervous system, which will enable the dentist to carry out any work, although you will feel abit floaty you will still be able to have verbal contact with both dentist and nurse throughout the procedure.
The Midazolam comes in little glass ampules and if i remember correctly we use to administer 5ml's.
You will be monitored throughout the procedure and hopefully the practice you go to will have a fully qualified sedation nurse assisting the dentist.
There are 3 main sedative agents used in the UK are: Nitrous Oxide(n20) this is administered by inhalation- i tried this on a sedation course and it made me laugh like a lunatic but made my dentist very sick.
A benzodiazepine administered orally (Temazepam)
and a benzodiazepine administered intravenously (Midazolam)
I am sure you will be fine and you really have nothing to worry about, so good luck and if you want anymore info feel free to email me.
Jackie

Answer 4

Hi how are you i hope youre ok, well im a dentist, im from nicaragua and im in the recident of maxilo facial surgery do you want to know about dental sedation This Oral Medication used for Oral Conscious Sedation in dentistry are from a group of drugs known as Benzodiazapines. Not only do these medications have a sedative effect they also have some degree of amnesic effect for most people. Patients remember little or nothing about their dental appointment.

Advantages to Dental Oral Sedation:

Easy to administer: Swallow a small pill
It is safe and easy to monitor
Works well for most people
Low Cost
Disadvantages of Dental Oral Sedation:
The level of Sedation is not easily changed
Someone must drive you to and from your dental appointment
There is no analgesic (pain relief effect)
What medications are used for Dental Oral Sedation?
The most common medication is Halcion (triazolam). Halcion provides a deep level of relaxation and amnesia effect.
For children the most common medication is Versed (Medazolan) which is a liquid.

if do you need more about dental sedation send me a email to
[e-mail]

Answer 5

I had to have some extensive work done and as I am terrified of dentists I was sedated. I didn't have the IV sedation though, I was given a small pill to take one hour before my appointment and once I got to the surgery, I was given a second pill. By that time I was unaware of time passing but was able to respond to questions and also let the dentist know if I was in any pain. I know I had injections in my mouth but I can't remember it happening. I can honestly say I didn't feel a thing and I had no swelling afterwards. The dentist told me that sedation relaxes a patient much that there is less body tension which makes the whole procedure easier all round, less tension equates to less bruising and swelling. I was thrilled with the whole visit, no nausea or pain afterwards. Do take someone with you though, you won't be able to drive.

Answer 6

i was sedated when i had a bunch of teeth removed, i cannot stand needles so it was the best choice for me, they just stuck me with an iv, and put in whatever they do through there. but I was asleep when i was sedated, so maybe there are different types, im not sure, but im pretty sure it wasnt normal anesthetic. I woke up in a daze and had no clue where i was or what was going on i am having 4 wisdom teeth removed soon and am considering sedation again because ive heard some bad things about anaesthetic.

Answer 7

I am a dental nurse and I nurse for the main dentist in my area who uses sedation. It is administered intra venously and the sedative is called midazolam. Ethylchloride spray is used to clean and numb the vein in your arm before the needle is placed. Once the sedative is being injected you start to feel drunk and light. You will be able to respond during treatment ie open your mouth, but within 24 hours you will not remember being in the chair. Most of the patients I have seen have this treatment have been so relaxed they fall asleep in the chair, say some weird stuff then are taken home. When I call them the next day to check they are well none of them can remember from being injected. Hope this helps

Answer 8

i had 4 of my wisdom teeth removed at once, i was sedated for it. they gave me an IV and put the meds in there, i went to sleep and woke up everything was done. i had no pain afterwards, no bruising, no swelling, no bleeding nothing! it was a great experience. if i had to get teeth worked on again i would do it again in a heartbeat. not everyone has that experience, just check out the doc, talk with him/her about it and go from there, i think it was great, and im glad i didnt have to be awake for any of it. good luck!