Pain free dentistry really?

[del1978]

Having not been to dentist in many years I believe I need two badly decayed teeth removed, there is no pain but the decay is affecting the gum around it. I was considering having this done under sedation. I believe anaesthetic may have not alot of effect on me as I have felt a reasonable amount of pain and discomfort during fillings hence not going to a dentist for along time. During an extraction I can imagine the pain to be alot worse, if I do feel considerable pain can I ask the dentist to stop and more anaesthetic given or is it a once you start you have to finish scenario. As this seemed the case/attitude on previous visits to a dentist which is bearable for fillings but maybe not for an extraction.

Hopefully the sedation will help in some respects but this does not stop pain as I'm aware, is that correct?

Thanks

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

Thank you for your post.

IV sedation makes you drowsy, sleepy and relaxed and less aware of whats going on around you. However local anaesthetic is also given to stop you feeling any pain when the procedure is being carried out. If you still have pain after that, the sedationist usually becomes aware by looking at your "blood pressure, pulse, body reactions,..." and asks the dentist to provide more local anaesthetic. Also sedation drugs have an amnesic effect on you, so you will not remember most of what happened afterwards in any case.

So overall dental treatment under sedation and local anaesthetic is usually very painless and recommended for patients who are worried about dental treatment pain.