|
Click here to find a Sedation Dentist
Dental Phobia Search: Alternatives to medical management of dental anxiety and phobias
Question:
I have 6 remaining teeth in the upper jaw. They are all chipped, decayed and broken. I am not positive, but belive they need to be pulled, because they are just plain NASTY and gone!
My problem is that I am severely afraid of the dentist. I have seen the same one for sometime and am comfortable with him, however, the ONE needle that is inserted into the roof of the mouth which enables work to be done on the front teeth is KEEPING me away from his office.
My self esteem has suffered a great deal because of the smile that is now hidden behind a droopy top lip in an effort to hide the ugliness of the teeth! My dentist has agreed to extract the 6 teeth, and place the denture in immediately so I am not without teeth. He has also agreed to the IV sedation to complete the extractions. What he does not agree to and which makes no sense to me is that he will not sedate me UNTIL he has given me the needles in the roof of my mouth! This of course is my entire reason for wanting to be sedated.
Is it possible for a dentist to sedate you with IV sedation and then give the needles or do the extractions? Why does he have to give me the needles FIRST? And is there ANY way to make those needles in the roof of your mouth NOT feel as if they are coming out the top of your head? PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME! I pray for someone to punch me in the mouth JUST to avoid those needles! ...Pam in MD
Answer:
Pam, those nasty little palatal injections can sting, but it is possible to lessen the pain. First, if you are going to get I.V. sedation I don't understand why your dentist is sedating you after the shots. That makes no sense. The reason for sedation is to take away the fear of the needle. It's weird, but it sounds backwards to me. To lessen the needle pain, your dentist can rub topical on for about 5 minutes and then push with the end of the mirror on the palate. The pressure of the mirror handle and the topical should lessen the pain quite a bit. You can also take some Valium or Halcion before your appointment to make you at ease. Anyways, you should also consider saving any of your teeth and using those roots later for anchorage if they are strong. You can have mini-connectors put into the denture which attaches the denture into the roots and keeps it from falling our of your mouth. Save what God gave you, you'll thank yourself later!
Editorial Staff
|
|
