Dental IV sedation.

[Faithfully]

Hi!
I'm going to have 2 teeth removed next week, and I will be having it done under IV sedation.
I'm as scared of that as much as getting my teeth done.
Can anyone tell me what to expect.
Will I be able to walk out on my own?
Any replies are greatly appreciated!
TIA!

[Dolores]

Since they're using IV sedation, you'll need someone with you to drive you home. You'll still be quite groggy after they get done. My dentist requires a driver or they won't do the work.

[janelle]

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed that way, it's a breeze really from being awake. You go in, they put the IV sedation in and you are out just like that. The next thing you know the nurse is telling you it is all done and you can leave. My dentist even had an exit door where my hubby was waiting with the car. I went home and slept it off. Only took one pain pill just in case but didn't need the others. I walked to the car and into my house so you can get up and walk but you will be sleepy.

[SLance68]

I had a similar situation as Janelle. It was really no big deal. They put in the IV and tell you to count backwards from 100 - I remember making it to 97. I was groggy when I left but was able to get in the car - don't remember the drive home and got in the house going up 3 steps and made it to my bed. I didn't take much pain medication afterwards but I also have a pretty high tolerance for pain but low tolerance for pain meds - they knock me out pretty quickly.

[justme23]

I had every tooth in my head removed under IV Sedation... They did require a driver, but other than that I was free to do whatever I wanted whenever I felt up to doing it. I didn't even go home when I was done... Hubby took me to buy a smoothie (which was quite comical considering my mouth was so stuffed w/ gauze and I had bruises under my eyes (not common in minimal tooth extraction)) and then I went to my Nana's house... I was so freaking happy to not be in pain that I couldn't sleep for a while but when I did finally sleep I slept for like twelve hours. In fact, the stitches... that dry out if you sleep with your mouth open and tighten up... caused more pain and discomfort than anything else in the whole process... they don't use the same kind of drugs they use when you go in for surgery... there won't be an anesthesiologist... it's just demoral and you are not in an unknowing sleep... I woke up during mine and the doc just very gently said go back to sleep... and I did.

[iluvmybaby]

I am almost impossible to numb to at the dentists, whenever I have to have major work done I have to do it under IV sedation. Basically, you need to be wearing no makeup, metal jewelery, no eating or drinking after midnight, don't cheat this is serious as you can get nausues during surgery which isnt a good thing. If you are nervous ask your oral surgeon to perscribe something the night before so you sleep, and maybe something for the morning of with a small sip of water. It isnt that bad, you count back from 100, by 98 you are out. Because you are not consicence you are more relaxed and healing time is a LOT shorter

[Kelsey1224]

Yep...what everybody has already said. It's easy peazy...you are absolutely unaware of what is happening until they wake you up that it is over. Then, someone drives you home to sleep it off.

Honestly, I wish they would put me out when they clean my teeth...LOL!

[hblueeyes]

I never knew they had IV sedation at the dentist. After reading the above posts, I can honestly say I wish I had.

Me

[SLance68]

I had every tooth in my head removed under IV Sedation... They did require a driver, but other than that I was free to do whatever I wanted whenever I felt up to doing it. I didn't even go home when I was done... Hubby took me to buy a smoothie (which was quite comical considering my mouth was so stuffed w/ gauze and I had bruises under my eyes (not common in minimal tooth extraction)) and then I went to my Nana's house... I was so freaking happy to not be in pain that I couldn't sleep for a while but when I did finally sleep I slept for like twelve hours. In fact, the stitches... that dry out if you sleep with your mouth open and tighten up... caused more pain and discomfort than anything else in the whole process... they don't use the same kind of drugs they use when you go in for surgery... there won't be an anesthesiologist... it's just demoral and you are not in an unknowing sleep... I woke up during mine and the doc just very gently said go back to sleep... and I did.

When I had it done they didn't use Demerol they used liquid Valium. Trust me if they used Demerol they would regret it as I would be barfing on their shoes.


I never knew they had IV sedation at the dentist. After reading the above posts, I can honestly say I wish I had.


They did not do mine at a dentist office it was done at an Oral Surgeon's office. I do know one of my bosses gets laughing gas for any work at the dentist - he is the biggest chicken I have ever seen about the dentist.

[justme23]

Maybe different doctors use different things... but I asked and I know they used Demerol on me... Valium has an exciting effect on me, I go in to hyper overdrive... so they could never have used that on me.

[Faithfully]

Thank you all for your feedback.
I'm having mine done at a oral surgeons office.
Still unsure if I want the iv sedation, or just laughing gas, though I'm leaning towords the iv since one of my teeth is going to be very hard to extract.
Thursday is the big day, wish me luck!

[SLance68]

I would suggest the IV sedation it will make it much easier on you. Hope it all goes well on Thursday. The IV sedation is really not bad at all and nothing to be concerned about.

[cathych]

I just had this done, in fact, I just lost my stitches a couple of days ago. Take a driver with you, like everyone says. The iv stick is the most painful part. Go to the grocery, buy a lot of ice cream, they want you to eat cold stuff the first day after, the next day is when you can eat soups, and then a soft diet after that. Trust me, you will not want to eat anything like nuts for fear you might hurt something back there. That jello you get from the store is great, so is the protein drinks. I was sent home with some percocet, but only took about 2, and that was because I was under orders to take pain meds every 4 hours the first day. While I was asleep, he numbed up my mouth good with novacain, so I was painless for several hours. I am also prone to get dry socket, so he put a bunch of stitches in my mouth. I had 2 wisdoms done, as well as an abcessed tooth. It is expensive though, unless you have dental insurance.

[littlered1]

Good luck! Let us know how it goes for you. I have never had IV sedation so I am kind of curious about it too.

[justme23]

Yeah, definitely stock up on the softest foods you can manage... I ate a lot of mashed potatoes and macaroni from KFC and they told me to drink the diabetic protein shakes (even though I wasn't diabetic then). Ice cream and jellos were great too... it took me almost a year to get back on solid foods because my gums had to get tough but you aren't loosing all your teeth so it shouldn't take you more than 2 weeks.

[cathych]

you will be off any kind of nuts at all while your gums heal. I was jonesing big time for some butttery popcorn.

[Faithfully]

Hi everyone, Just wanted to say thanks for all your help. Had the surgery done this morning. I got laughing gas first, but it didn't seem to effect me. He numbed me real good, then put the iv in.
I remmeber bits and pieces of things as they happened. I heard a lot of bone being cracked, but felt no pain. They told me they gave me stitches, which I have no recollection of,lol. When they were done, They helped me out the door, and I have felt fine since.
To anyone, I would highly recommend doing iv sedation, I'm so glad I did!

[SLance68]

Glad your surgery went well.

[janelle]

Glad it went ok. Don't use a straw is they didn't already tell you. That may dislodge the blood clots. You do not want a dry socket so let them heal.

[iluvmybaby]

I have had dental work done several times and when I use IV sedation I never remember anything, but I have a super low tolerance so it might just be me. I am so glad things went well for you.

[justme23]

Glad it went ok. Don't use a straw is they didn't already tell you. That may dislodge the blood clots. You do not want a dry socket so let them heal.

She can use straws... they put stitches in to close the holes... but it may hurt to suck regardless.

[cathych]

I was definately told not to use straws. And I had stitches too.

[SLance68]

Everyone I know of that has had teeth removed and stitches put in are told to not use straws and don't smoke.

[justme23]

Guess my doctor is over confidant in his work them... I was told I could use a straw after 24 hours and smoke as well... maybe it would have been better if he said I couldn't smoke, perhaps I would have quit.