I went in today for a consultation for my wisdom teeth. My dentist only does sedation, not general anesthesia. They use triazolam (Halcion) and it's suppose to have an amnesia-like effect. Has anyone done this or know any information about it? I've read about Halcion so I know the medical effect it has but I guess I just want a personal opinion. I'm really scared. I'm scared of anesthsia as well but at least I know I definitely wouldn't be awake to experience something bad. The dentist seems great. He's got years in the business and he pointed out a tooth that has bothered me for a while that other dentists didn't care too much about, before I even mentioned it to him. (I have a cavity that was half filled and it's been bothering me but no other dentist has noticed it until now.) It's suppose to be really great (sedation) but i'm scared of being awake even though I won't remember anything.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 08:38 pm:

Are you talking about impacted wisdom teeth? If you are, I would strongly recommend a general anesthesia. If they are not impacted then the Halcion may be OK. My only experience is with both me and one of my sons having impacted wisdom teeth. Two of his were bone impacted, and mine was at an angle and under another tooth, so in both cases a general anesthesia was the better way.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 08:40 pm:

Something to think about. General anesthesia is done in an outpatient surgery center, not in a practitioner's office. Does your dentist only use Halcion because he does not have privileges at a hospital or outpatient surgery center? And, if you have the procedure done at an outpatient surgery center it will cost more - I don't know what kind of insurance coverage you have. Mine and my son's were covered by insurance because of the nature of the impaction, but I suspect if there is not bone impaction, your insurance might not cover the more expensive procedure.

By Boxzgrl on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 09:25 pm:

None of my teeth are bone impacted. There are two poking through the gumline and two still under the gumline. No, I don't believe he has outpatient surgical priviledges. The sedation is not covered by my insurance and is $450. I think general anesthesia is covered but i'm not completely sure. I have United Concordia, which is Tricare's dental insurance. My problem is that i've never been anesthetized, nor sedated so I don't know the effect either would have on me.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 09:56 pm:

Melissa, I and DH have both had oral surgery under IV sedation with versed - totally painless and you don't even remember a single thing. All of our combined oral surgeries were for wisdom teeth, or pulling other teeth.

When Jules was in the Coast Guard, they pulled all her wisdom teeth using IV sedation in the oral surgeon's office. She did fine, but in having all 4 removed at the same time, and going home right afterward, she was very swollen and sore for a few days.

DH and I always had to pay extra for the IV sedation - for some reason that is not covered - but it is WELL worth it!

If you choose general anesthesia in an out patient surgery center, you *might* have a lower copay as far as the anesthetic is concerned, but you might have a higher copay for the surgery center. I don't know, it depends on your insurance.

At any rate, whatever you decide to do, you should probably enlist someone to help care for Kaitlyn for a couple of days, especially if you are taking meds, which you probably will be after having 4 teeth pulled.

By Pamt on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 10:39 pm:

I had my impacted wisdom teeth out with valium IV sedation. It didn't hurt at all and I don't remember a thing, except waking up at home in bed. I do remember them starting the IV and then I was in bed--that's it. I would go with sedation.

By Boxzgrl on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 10:59 pm:

It's oral sedation, not iv. Which is what makes me nervous.

By Kaye on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 11:23 pm:

I had mine out via oral sedation, it wasn't a great experience. I did just recently have gum surgery that was better. What I would have wanted to know, for me I do recall the whole thing, it wasn't horrible, I was just unprepared. I had all 4 impacted, two under other teeth, done at the same time. You feel LOTS of pressure, not pain, but still, pressure hurts if you aren't expecting it. I was given something, but it didn't work. Anyway, I probably would go that route again. I would bring my ipod, my mediation music and stay in the zone.

By Crystal915 on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 12:03 am:

I have had extractions done both ways, not wisdom, but molars that were not erupted yet when I was a teen. I much prefer the IV sedation, it was easy and MUCH less traumatic, IMO. A lot of time the noise, pressure, and fear are much worse than the procedure itself. Good luck hon!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 07:47 am:

I had IV sedation when I had my wisdom teeth pulled. I would do it that way again.

By Amecmom on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 07:58 am:

I had mine out via a local. It was not especially painful, but I do remember a lot of tugging and scraping. I didn't like it, needless to say. I would opt for general if you can.

Good luck
Ame

By Karen~moderator on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 08:46 am:

Melissa, can you request IV sedation????? Why not have a consultation with an oral surgeon for this? If your dentist only does oral sedation, that's what I would do.

By Pamt on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 09:11 am:

Ditto Karen. Actually, regardless of the sedation issue, I would have an oral surgeon do the procedure anyway just due to training and experience differences between the 2 professions.

By Boxzgrl on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 12:24 pm:

I think i'm going to just have my friends oral surgeon do it. She can't say enough good things about how great he was. The only reason i'd be okay with the sedation is because the dentist can take care of my cavities and wisdom teeth in one sitting. I hate going back, especially when it's a place I hate. Under anesthesia, they won't fill my cavities because they don't want me under anesthesia longer than I have to be. (Though they admit it wouldn't take more than 10 minutes to fill all my cavities.) I keep going back and forth on this issue. I need to make a decision fast so I can get this done with.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 07:19 pm:

An oral surgeon took my wisdom teeth out.