Expert answers
We know how daunting dental treatment can be. Our Dental Phobia certified experts are here to help ease your mind before treatment by answering your questions.
What is the correct dose when receiving sedation?
I hope you can give me some advice and your opinion?
I have been struggling with dental phobia – but I had to go to the dentist 3 weeks ago due to a root infection with facial swelling. I agreed to undergo the extraction under IV sedation which was done last Friday.
I don’t feel it went well!
I don’t believe I was sedated – he seemed to struggle to get the drug in. He asked me if I had trouble giving blood as he couldn’t find a vein – (I have had a vein go into spasm before when I gave blood) It felt like it took him around 5 minutes to do the IV injection and afterwards I noticed I had two puncture holes on my arm. I was fully aware throughout the whole procedure – I can describe everything that happened including the sensation of my gum being cut either side of the tooth – the sensation of my tooth cracking! The nurse checking my BP!
When I left the dentist I only felt slightly dizzy.
Could it be that I am not affected by the drug or I believe I only had a small dose, nowhere near enough to sedate me.
Previously he has done a local anaesthetic that has made my throat numb and my mouth was unaffected – this has happened twice although I don’t feel like he believes me. I am reluctant to ask him about the IV Sedation as I don’t feel he will be honest with me but it will affect how I have any future work done.
I know it has worked for others from speaking to some of my colleagues!
Hello ,
Im sorry your experience was not as good as you hoped .
the two puncture marks may have been due to the difficulty getting IV Access .
If the drug was just a single one called midazolam , then it has to be given slowly and matched to how the patient is responding .
There are some patients who are not sedated deeply enough with Midazolam only , or to get deep enough sedation would need a dangerous dose of the drug .
Every person responds differently to sedative drugs , some being sedated with a very small dose , others as with yourself finding you still are too aware for your comfort .
Dont be afaid of describing your experience because as you rightly say your future treatment choices may be affected by this , every dentist who gives sedation comes across this occasionally ..
I have a very experienced dental anaesthetist for my patients , who gives a cocktail of two or three drugs Almost all people remember nothing about the procedure , even though still safely consciously sedated .
However I have had the occasional person who even at that level has not been comfortable , and Ive referred to hospital for a full general anaesthetic . .
