Someone here recommended that I go to a sedation dentist.

I don't recall who it was, but whoever it was...THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I went to the dentist today for a cracked tooth. He said it will need to come out, then we had a long conversation about how anxious that was likely to make me, and whether I thought nitrous or sedation would make me feel less anxious. I said I'd like sedation, and my dentist agreed. Haven't done the procedure yet, because he wants me on a course of antibiotics first.

But it's so good to go to a dentist who doesn't belittle my anxiety, who takes it seriously, and who takes it into account when designing a treatment plan.

So, Lounger who suggested sedation dentistry, I'm forever grateful!!

i had a dentist when i was very young that yelled at me, s i hate the dentist

for flinching when he was literally pounding the bands onto my teeth. I've been downright phobic ever since. My insurance won't cover the extra expense of sedation, but I'm more than willing to pay for it.

I'm also okay with nitrous. I have a high tolerance for pain.

and it was brilliant. I had never heard of of being put to sleep for dental work. I don't know when they started doing it ... this was in the 70s ...but I wish it had been when I was a 6 year old being bullied by my father for 'embarrassing' him by displaying fear and pain to the dentist.

I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED a dental dam. I hear they are uncomfortable. They weren't even using them when I started sedation dentistry.

compared to some they see. This is the only sedation dentist in the area, so they see lots of people with dental phobia. She said some cry in the waiting room, and some have trouble just coming through the door. She referred to me as "brave", for admitting my fears to the staff, but going to the dentist anyway. Of course, the condition of my teeth tells the real story of my avoidance and anxiety.

So, there's "anxious", and then there's "anxious!".

He had a picture of a cow on the ceiling and he said when the cow started to spin, it was time to back off.

It makes you not mind ANYTHING.

I don't know if sedation is pouring some Ativan down you or if it's closer to knocking you cold, but when I had some dental work done with nitrous, I was a pretty damn happy camper. And I do NOT like the dentist.

YMMV.

;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halcion



You take one about an hour before the procedure. It doesn't exactly knock you out, but it relaxes the holy freakin' jesus out of you. Feels very much like being under hypnosis. The first dentist had me come to his office in my jammies to be even more comfortable. :)