I had three wisdom teeth pulled out a few weeks ago, and I didn’t have anything stronger than a local, but I should have. Having had the first wisdom tooth pulled years ago with no problems at all, I was unprepared for how scary and uncomfortable these other three would be. I was obviously teary and terrified and kept tensing up and even making moaning noises, and I was so embarrassed to be acting like that, but I couldn’t help it. If I ever have to have work done again I’m going to ask for some pharmaceutical help.
Count me in on the never done it column… I actually prefer to be awake and have local anesthesia on that sort of stuff
When I had my root canal, the endodontist’s assistant assured me that “less than half” of their patients used nitrous. I thought that was a pretty big percentage, especially since the gas isn’t usually covered by insurance.
I have a root canal scheduled for tomorrow. I called the endodontist’s office to see if they provided nitrous oxide, and the receptionist said that they prefer to have the patient use Halcion, an oral sedative similar to Valium. (Take it 20 minutes before the appointment). She said they can have the nitrous available if the patient really wants it, but they rarely use it.
By the way, my regular dentist provides nitrous oxide for anyone who wants it (even for cleanings) and changes $30 per visit, no matter how much is used.
Psht. I want to be medicated all the time.
Introduce some doctor’s fingers in my mouth comitting who knows what kind of malicious mischeif, and I want unconciousness.
Never get it, though. IME, dentists are stingy.
Keep that up, and your liver will go away, too.
My daughter, now 20, has to have Valium. She does so well with it that I am planning on asking for it myself when I next have to have work done.
I have never heard of anyone not taking some form of sedation for a root canal, which the OP has stated is the work to be done. It is generally accepted to be a painful, awkward procedure.
I am uncommonly anxious at the dentist, and my old one offered me Xanax, but I declined it for ordinary procedures. But for the root canal, oh hell yes. Adrenaline makes the local wear off too fast, and having needed additional shots in the middle of the procedure once, never again no no no.
I had intravenous demerol for my wisdom teeth (2 impacted, 2 standard).
Nice! My former dentist charged 92 dollars.
I ask for Xanax before going to the dentist. I actually did start out terrified to the point where I’d tear up just making appointments. The Xanax actually did help me get over that and now I’m sure I’m fine, but it’s a nice little perk and does make everything a lot more pleasant.
I’ve had three root canals, and I never had any kind of sedation, only a local. They were awkward, mainly because I had to hold my mouth open for so long, and boring, but not tremendously painful. The only time I’ve ever had any kind of sedation at the dentist was when I had my wisdom teeth pulled, and that was only the kind that makes you feel loopy without actually putting you to sleep.
I think I probably have a higher tolerance of dental pain than many people, but I also think that the fact that I am not at all afraid of the dentist makes a big difference. I have the same feeling about a dental appointment that I do about a hair appointment. You’re going to have to sit still in the big chair for a long time, and probably be bored stiff unless you get someone interesting to talk to you; you’ll feel the occasional annoying tug; and then you’ll be done.
Hello Again, you mentioned that you are very anxious at the dentist, and that adrenaline makes the anesthetic wear off more quickly. Maybe those of us who have no anxiety and therefore no extra adrenaline don’t experience the same problems or need for sedation.
Which is not to say that I don’t respect everyone’s right to do whatever they need to do to take good care of their teeth. I’ll just be over here in the “I can take it!” club. 
I have had two root canals and only had a local anaesthetic for both. I have had crowns on my four front teeth, using a local. However, I just had my wisdom teeth out a few weeks ago, and two other broken teeth extracted too, and was knocked out for them, thank goodness.
The way I had it done appears to be the standard method in these parts. I’m sure some dentists and dental surgeons vary, but I’m confident it wouldn’t be too different from what I went through.
Well, not everybody, but some of us certainly do.
Hell, my husband ratted me out to my gynocologist to write me 'scrip to calm me down enough to actually call a dentist for an appointment! I certainly wasn’t going to mention it, since even talking about 'em freaks me out.
2 1/2 mg to make the phone call, a Giant Freakin Marine to get me in the car, 5 mg to walk through the door at the appropriate time, and gas to keep me in the chair.
I would never wish it on anyone, but . . . well, yes I would, actually. Anyone who thinks those of us who need some help are wimps, should go part way through a root canal when the numb wears off, and have the asshole dentist tell them to “just hang on for a little longer.” Twice, and the second time, the incompetent asshole breaks their jaw “just slightly.”
If they don’t mind the dentist after that, *then * they can call me a coward.
(FTR – I’ve had 10 mg, gas, two root canals, and a big filling today. The oxyco-something has kicked in. I’m calm, but wish I’d discovered valium 15 years ago, so my teeth wouldn’t have gotten this bad. Also, I’m half loaded, and pretty sure my spelling and grammar is atrocious. Sorry 'bout that.)
I worked for two years at a dentist’s office, doing foot massage on all regular clients in the chair and full body massage prior to more elaborate procedures for any clients who needed to be settled down, and post op head/neck/jaw massage for folks who’ve been put through the wringer.
Doc says it has cut down on the drugs dramatically.
When I had two wisdom teeth removed I just got a local. I didn’t feel any pain and it was fun watching them do the procedure. But I know some people have intense phobias about such things and don’t begrudge them their drugs. But I’ve never heard of someone self-medicating before hand. I would think you should ask the dentist if it’s ok first.
I feel kind of cheated now. All the root canals I’ve had, and nobody ever offered me nitrous. :sulk:
Who said we were not telling their dentist about it beforehand?
Hell, when I had to have blood drawn to get insurance, I have such a huge needle phobia that I had it done at my dentist’s office so I could have nitrous. He’s a great guy.
I had a fully unmedicated root canal (“It’s just pressure”/“It can’t hurt that much”/“I gave you plenty of novacaine”) from a bitch dentist who wouldn’t even give me something to take after the procedure (“Well, if you REALLY want to, you could take 200mg of motrin, but I can’t see that as necessary.”)
What’s worse is the root canal was so badly done my current dentist described it as “practically malpractice”. It rotted under the crown and got abscessed, which I sat on for two months, until I was running a fever and the pain was so bad I couldn’t sleep. 48 hrs without sleep and a borrowed vicodin (yeah, yeah) and I was finally loopy enough to call this guy that specialized in “problem cases.”
Oh, babe, if I wasn’t a devout atheist, I would wish your dentist a special place in hell, two levels down from those who talk in the theater.
Ya know (since I’m WAAAY overly mediacated at the moment, and trying to be cheerful about it), once you survive an unmedicated root canal, it is all uphill from there, eh?