OT: seeking advice

[SimplyMe]

I went to the oral surgeon yesterday for a consultation for a cyst they found when I had other dental work done. Anyhow the bottom line is I will have to have it removed, oh joy! So the advice comes in here. It is something that has to be done either way since it could grow and cause nerve promblems and make the jaw bone brittle plus its sitting on a nerve that gives sensation to the chin and lips. So my options: sedation or not sedation.


My reasons for not wanting sedation are: I just had it not even 2 mos ago for my wisdom teeth extractions, it's an additional $350, I will have to take 2 antibiotics an hour before and w/ sedation no food for 6 hours before so it'd be on an empty stomach, and I will have to be babysat for 5 hrs after the procedure, meaning my Mom (which is who would have to take me) misses an entire day of work.


The reasons I do want sedation are: I won't be able to panic or freak out.


The reasons I don't want to go w/o sedation are: I might freak/panic while my mouth is cut open (sorry gross visual)


The reasons I want to do it w/o sedation are: I will be able to walk myself out, they say you can go about your regular business afterwards, no drugs in my system, I can take the antibiotics w/ food.


OK, so what do you guys think? When I call to make the appt. I'm going to ask if I could pop a Benadryl before I leave if I dont' do sedation and bring headphones. I asked the receptionist and nurse there about getting it w/o sedation and they said it's no worse that a root canal and I've had 4 of those w/o sedation. They say it's noisy, hence the headphones. I just worry I will freak since I had a panic attack on the way there (it's about half hour away) So I'm scared to do it w/o sedation but scared to do it w/. When he thought I was having sedation he said I'd only be there about an hour and I'm assuming that included wake up time and set up time so the actual procedure is probably less. Also the cyst is up front, it's on the bottom about 1 or 2 teeth from the 4 front ones so it wouldn't be waaay back like wisdom teeth. Basically if I could ensure not to flip I think I'd like to do it w/o sedation. Sorry to ramble so long, and thanks in advance for any advice. Have any of you ever had this done or know anyone who has. Oh also because I don't have insurance he said I wont' have a CT scan to see if it's a cyst or solid (he doesn't believe it to be cancerous based on it's shape) but if it's a cyst he will remove it and if it's solid he said he'll take a sample so they will be "poking around" I guess. I don't know. I'm going to shut up now lol.[img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]

[bexcelica]

hey, i think sedation is the way to go. thats how i got one of my
wisdom teeth out. it was fun too i loved it when i woke up. dont
worry about it though.



i dont think you would freak out with y our mouth cut open because
theyll give you something, unless its just novicane. im not sure.

[babygap5]

I had a friend who had a large cyst in the upper part of her gum and they didn't knock her out and she said it was awful. She would have preferred to have been knocked out.

[SimplyMe]

Thanks guys.


Bex- I had sedation w/ my wisdom teeth too and it wasn't bad but the waking up part seems to take too long for me lol. As for freaking while they cut, I'm not concerned w/ the pain part because I know they will numb it up well enough I just worry if I have a panic attack while it's going on ya know?


Babygap-wow someone else had it, I was beginning to feel like the only one lol. Even looking it up online is a chore (then again I'm not all that computer savvy) I will probably regret asking this but what did she say was horrible about it? They told me it's noisy (drills and such) but I figured since that's pretty much what they do w/ a root canal ...

[bexcelica]

Thanks guys.


As for freaking while they cut, I'm not concerned w/ the pain part because I know they will numb it up well enough I just worry if I have a panic attack while it's going on ya know?

yea i worry about that when i get cavities drilled. everytime im at the dentist i worry what if i v* and theres an open tooth in my mouth that cant even get wet? or what if i freak out? i think being knocked out would be worth the $ and stuff, because you wont have to worry, especially if youve been through it with your wisdom teeth.

[2jo2]

Here's another option - ask the dentist to give you a prescription for a couple valium. You could take them and basically not care meaning you won't flip out. This way you have the benefit of not getting knocked out, but you also won't be totally aware. Is getting gas an option? That doesn't knock you out either. I hope getting this cyst out is the end of your dental issues! Do they think it will be? Good luck!

[kel12347]

2jo2's idea is what I would suggest. The dentist can write a prescription for just a couple of Valium pills. My old dentist used to do that for me. I only used them when I had to have something more complicated than a cleaning done. You probably won't be able to drive after the procedure though if you take Valium, so maybe your mom can just drive you home and go back to work.


I also had a root canal done, without sedation. I honestly don't think I would have needed the sedation. I took 1/2 a Lorazepam before going in, and just focused on a spot on the ceiling the whole time, saying "I am safe. I am not in danger." The only problem is that sometimes they blocked my ceiling spot!! That technique helped me to focus on something other than what horrid procedure the dentist was doing to my poor mouth. I was offered sedation, but turned it down b/c it was too expensive.Edited by: kel12347

[SimplyMe]

Thanks guys! I was thinking today about when I call to make the appt. saying something about a pill the thing I worry about there is I've never had Valium before so I fear it will make me sick. Gosh! I hate emet! A non emet would be like "gimme some pills to relax, Ok thanks, do your thing" GRRR! Anyhow thanks again all of you. I think/hope this is it for dental procedures w/ the exception of getting the implant put in (which I can be awake for) and regular cleanings etc.

[tayda]

I think that local anestisia is the way to go. I was petrified of this before I had my wisdom teeth done. But I didn't have the option of sedation. I will tell you one thing. (warning: grossness ahead) The first crunch of the tooth freaked me out a bit, but I didn't feel a thing. SO after that it was perfectly fine. I was able to gradually get used to the pain and take the vicodines BEFORE I was in agony. The point being... I know peoiple who have been sedated and others (like myself) who weren't, and it seems we all came out better than those that were sedated. Plus you don't feel groggy and gross afterwards.

[SimplyMe]

Thanks Tayda. I talked to my Bio professor and he said the same thing as you guys ... Valium or soemthing to clam the nerves but not be completely out. Ironically I came home the other day and had a message from them that I need to havea root canal on the tooth above the cyst before they can do anything! GRRR!!!!! I can't express how drowned I feel, It's like I'm being passed from one specialist to another and the thing that pisses me off is there isn't anything wrong w/ the tooth! So i have to have a root canal on a good tooth! Sorry, I'm frustrated. Thanks for your input guys. Oh, Baby gap, did they make your friend do that? It's just odd to me but I'm not a dentist so I don't know what the reasoning would be.

[tayda]

Yuck! Root Canal?! I'm sorry...hey I was wondering if maybe you could bring an mp3 player or diskman or SOMETHING while you are having work done... it may help ease any anxiety...