<p>I have to have two root canals. I am seriously considering conscious sedation for the procedure. Does anyone have experience? Also, this will be my first experience with root canals, all I have heard are horror stories…Is it really going to be that bad? Thanks.</p>
<p>if you are over 19, the chances are your wisdom teeth are touching the nerve. I would not do conscious sedation if the teeth are touching the nerve because you will feel it and it will be bad. if your teeth are not touching the nerves then it’s less painful and complicated. I was asleep when I got my 4 removed. it was great and no pain.</p>
<p>crabbylady - </p>
<p>Root canals have evolved over time and are now done in one visit. It used to be a two-three visit procedure. </p>
<p>I’ve had several, some when I had an infection, which in and of itself was painful. But once the infection was removed, I felt soooo much better. </p>
<p>So, NO; they are not that bad. I can offer some suggestions for making it easier.</p>
<p>For me, when I had my first one many years ago (when it took more than one appointment), the worst part was the ‘rubber dam’ they attach to the surrounding teeth in order to keep a sterile field where they are working. I hated the feel of the rubber sort of hanging in my mouth, but it doesn’t phase some people. When I mentioned this to another dentist one time, he offered a compromise. He said if I promised to keep my mouth open the entire time and keep my tongue away from the field when he wasn’t in my mouth, he would do the procedure without the rubber dam. It made all the difference in the world, and so then the worst part of the procedure became just the slight tiredness my mouth felt toward the very end, as it stayed open the whole time.</p>
<p>The reason I’m telling you this is because it shows that you can negotiate things to make you more comfortable. For me, keeping my mouth open was no big deal. I’ve had absolutely no pain when having a root canal because you’re numbed up.</p>
<p>Hope this helps. Again, I’ve had quite a few, and although it’s not my favorite thing, it’s really not that much different than a filling. Probably just takes a little bit longer.</p>
<p>ilikepizza - I don’t think she’s referring to wisdom teeth. Root canals can be performed on any teeth, not just back molars.</p>
<p>A very close friend had not seen a dentist in 15 years. At first it was just an oversight but it grew into fear. She finally went to see one when she was preparing for knee replacement surgery and she needed clearance from a dentist. She used sedation, had several teeth removed, had one root canal and other maintenance work done (not at one sitting). She was VERY happy and comfortable and saw no downside whatsoever.</p>
<p>As teriwtt mentioned, root canal therapy has come a very long way since “the bad old days.” I have a terrific Endodontist … ninety minutes, start to finish. Not scary at all.</p>
<p>I have had sedation dentistry. It all went very smoothly. I, like rom828’s friend, had such a fear and dislike of dental work, that I let years go by without seeing a dentist-big mistake. Had I not had the sedation option, I probably would not have gone to the dentist when I did and would have ended up with really serious issues.</p>
<p>I don’t regret it a bit. But I will say that it is very, very expensive. I didn’t have dental insurance, so I had to pay it out of pocket. I imagine most people would not find the expense worth it.</p>
<p>oh oops. I totally misread what she wrote… sorry about that.</p>
<p>Find a good endo and it will not be bad at all. Mine does the work in two visits, as do most dentists. The first visit consists of grinding down the tooth and taking care of the damaged root/nerve. A temporary is put on, and then a couple weeks later the permanent crown is seated. All in all not the horrific experience of root canals of yesteryear. The worst part for me is the grinding sound…ugggh. But that alone wouldn’t convince me to do sedation. An ipod helps block the sound and is much cheaper ;-)</p>
<p>What is sedation dentistry? Are we talking about nitrous oxide??</p>
<p>I’m all for it! I had free-graft gum surgery (not free- EXPENSIVE), and used sedation dentistry. It is a sedative, pain-killer and amnesiac - sort of twilight sleep, but you remember nothing. (I believe the say kind of cocktail they give you for a colonoscopy.) It made the procedure fine. Recovery hard, but procedure fine!!! I say, go for it!</p>
<p>The “sedation dentistry” that I am considering is conscious sedation. Basically I have nothing to eat or drink for 12 hrs prior to the procedure. I take a valium the night before. 1 hour prior to the appointment I take three pills, one is an antihistamine - atarax, which helps dry my mouth, the other two are triazolam, a halcyon type drug that helps induce amnesia. The point is to be comfortable and out of pain during the procedure and to remember little or nothing. Of course, my vital signs are watched.</p>
<p>Both root canals can be accomplished in 1 visit including crowns. This is the biggest advantage of oral sedation, alot of work can be accomplished at one time. I happen to be dental phobic and now I am paying for it - literally. </p>
<p>Hope this explanation helps.</p>
<p>I have had 2 root canals (on separate occasions). They were due to very deep cavities, and there was no previous pain. I was told that if there is no prior pain, then the root canal will not be painful at all. If there is prior pain, there will be pain during the procedure, but deadening the nerve finally does bring relief.</p>
<p>I was terrified going into the procedure, but as many have stated, root canals have come a long way.</p>
<p>So many root canals here that I’ve lost count. Not such a big deal these days, though long, time consuming procedures. No pain, and I’ve just used local. Though it hit me that some of the initial discomfort of the injections, as well as the rubber dam, and even tooth cleaning is helped by a dose of tylenol or ibuprofen prior to the appointment. I’ve never seen an endodontist, just regular dentists. </p>
<p>Having some relaxation techniques at hand is useful for events of this nature.</p>
<p>My sedation dentistry involved no meds by mouth. It was all sedation given through an IV, probably versed/fentanyl.</p>
<p>It was a “twilight sleep,” and I remember very little of the actual procedure.</p>