I need to get several teeth extracted. I’m not comfortable at the dentist’s office under the best of circumstances, so the idea of endurring these teeth extractions is like a living nightmare. Can I just go to the hospital to have them extracted? I’d rather not be knocked out.
Shannon M. – California
Dear Shannon,
You are not alone in your dental anxiety, and NO ONE looks forward to a tooth extraction, so I want you to realize your fears are no uncommon. While there are some hospitals that will allow patients to have their dental work done by a dentist under general anesthesia, it is really pricey. I’m going to suggest an alternative and you can decide what you’d like done.
There are dentists who use sedation. Given your level of anxiety and the procedure you’re facing, I’d look for dentist who uses oral conscious sedation and/or I.V. sedation. In either of those procedures you’ll be in a sleepy state and unlikely to remember the procedure.
You’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointments, because you’ll be too loopy to do it yourself. But, you’ll find you can get a lot more work done under sedation than you can without it. Plus, it will be completely pain free.
This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.
