Hi
Has anybody gone through this before. I thought I would be o.k, with this, however, I am about to get a cavity filled and I am so scared and upset. Last time I had a filling done, it took me on a month long road of pain and electric shocks and extreme teeth sensitivity, etc. The tears just came streaming down out of seemingly no where. Part of me doesn't even what to go, but I know if I let it go, I will need a root canal and that would be even worse....
How Did it go?
Thanks for the relies. I never went. I am not afraid of the actual procedure, I am afraid of the pain syndrome that starts afterwards and that can lead atleast a month long.. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss, you know what I mean? I have never been afraid of going to the dentist before all this. Plus, Dr. Casey told me to take 3 trileptal the day before, 4 trileptal the day of, and 2 the next day. I just took one the day before, and I slept for 4 hours after taking it, and I was worried about driving to and fro with these meds in me, I am not used to taking them. Perhaps, it is the fact that I had an apt with the same dentist that referred me to the oral surgeon who did this all to me in the first place. I don't know, but how are you guys doing?
Last time I asked about laughing gas, it’s the needle scares me…
after MVD made me better,
I had one teeeeny filling without any anesthetic …went fine.
I avoided the dentist for over 2 years because of the pain I would be in during and after. I started to go back when I found a sedation dentist that would put me to sleep to take care of a few root canals that needed to get done. Now I use laughing gas to take the edge off. Like you say, not scared of the dentist per say, it's what will happen afterwards. I also take some extra pain medicine afterwards to keep the pain at bay. At least take the edge off.
Thanks so much for your reply ihold. Its very helpful. How did you find this sedation dentist? I imagine, getting the sedation is a lot more expensive. Also, after the root canal, don't you need two more visits so they can fit a crown? did you have sedation for that as well or no?
I did a google search for "sedation dentistry" and went from there. I ended up with a dentist not too far from me that specialized in patients that were nervous about going to the dentist and he offered various forms of sedation. (This is his website if you want to look at the info he has about sedation dentistry: www.drsamromano.com.) Like others mentioned, he offered laughing gas or giving you a strong sedative by mouth. He also offers twilight sedation that he does himself which is some sort of light IV sedative. That's where it starts to cost more. In my case, he used an anesthesiologist and I was sedated for about 3-4 hrs to do some major work, including the root canals. That was pricey because I had to pay the anesthesiologist separately. I did that twice only. For the other visits, like fitting the crowns, he used nitrous (laughing gas) and I took a small dose of valium before going. I will tell you this, he was not the first dentist I went to. I had tried 2 other dentists before him using nitrous only and they just weren't calm and caring. They didn't have the right personality to deal with all of my nerves at the time. This dentist had me calm from the moment I met him. So, it might take some time to find the right fit.
Thank you sooooo much for your time in replying to my questions. It is very thoughtful of you and quite helpful. Why didn't I think of that.... just google sedation dentistry, duh, lol....I looked at your dentists web site and yes, looking at his picture, made me want to go to sleep, lol, he looks like a gentle soul....just one last question. So I am very curious about this...Did you go through a lot of pain after your root canals? I have heard many times a major procedure like this can activate the trigeminal nerve and it wont settle down for months. Was this the case for you or no? Thanks again, I do appreciate your time and your answers...
ihold said:
I did a google search for "sedation dentistry" and went from there. I ended up with a dentist not too far from me that specialized in patients that were nervous about going to the dentist and he offered various forms of sedation. (This is his website if you want to look at the info he has about sedation dentistry: www.drsamromano.com.) Like others mentioned, he offered laughing gas or giving you a strong sedative by mouth. He also offers twilight sedation that he does himself which is some sort of light IV sedative. That's where it starts to cost more. In my case, he used an anesthesiologist and I was sedated for about 3-4 hrs to do some major work, including the root canals. That was pricey because I had to pay the anesthesiologist separately. I did that twice only. For the other visits, like fitting the crowns, he used nitrous (laughing gas) and I took a small dose of valium before going. I will tell you this, he was not the first dentist I went to. I had tried 2 other dentists before him using nitrous only and they just weren't calm and caring. They didn't have the right personality to deal with all of my nerves at the time. This dentist had me calm from the moment I met him. So, it might take some time to find the right fit.
The first time I had 2 root canals done I had horrible TN pain for weeks afterwards. That was one of the reasons why I waited in going to a dentist again. When I went to this dentist, it was not as bad. I don't know if it's that he was just a lot more careful when he was working on me than the precious dentist or what. I had a lot of pain the day of, but I don't think it was that much worse afterwards. I don't know if this helps but my TN was not caused by a dental procedure. I don't know if maybe the people that get affected more for weeks afterwards are because their TN was caused from a dental procedure. I wonder. My biggest issue was having anything cold in my mouth. That would cause horrific TN pain.
I am absolutely dreading my first dentist appt after MVD. The last 3 years, since being diagnosed with TN, I have had my left side of my face fully numbed up by my dentist for all cleanings. I thought I was doing well, was out of pain and stable on meds, and thought I would try it with out. Huge mistake. My pain returned a week later worse than ever. Meds no longer maintained it and I had MVD 2 mo. later. So my anxiety about returning to the dentist is higher than ever!
Good luck when you do go to your appt!
Hi Anne, your story is very interesting, and although I feel for you, I am glad someone out there relates to my personal horrors, lol. I can see why you are scared to go to the dentist after your MVD. Going to the dentist and seeing what happens afterwards will be the ultimate test on if your surgery was a success or not I guess. So just because you had a cleaning done without getting a novacaine shot your pain came back with a vengeance??? I am Extremely curious why it takes 7 days (a week) for you and in my case 5 days for me, after a dental procedure was done, for us to experience this renewed pain syndrome. It seems like perhaps during the procedure , the trigeminal nerve goes from calm to agitated , tries to calm itself down and cant, and finally 5-7 days screams an endless scream , "you hurt me when you decided to get that work done!!"??? I don't know. I would love to read any literature about why there is a delay in a pain reaction...
It is totally understandable Scared & Angry Gal. You offered up the most tender and sensitive part of your body. I hope you are doing okay. Hugs
thanks so much for getting back to me, could it be that your root canals that hurt afterwards was because you had novacaine shots with it and the root canal you had without shots didn't hurt for long afterwards. that's what the theory that is out there says, that the shots and in particular the epinephrine in them, is , in and of itself , an irritant to the nerve... interesting about how your pain got triggered from the cold as well. anyways, like your artwork in your picture profile :)
ihold said:
The first time I had 2 root canals done I had horrible TN pain for weeks afterwards. That was one of the reasons why I waited in going to a dentist again. When I went to this dentist, it was not as bad. I don't know if it's that he was just a lot more careful when he was working on me than the precious dentist or what. I had a lot of pain the day of, but I don't think it was that much worse afterwards. I don't know if this helps but my TN was not caused by a dental procedure. I don't know if maybe the people that get affected more for weeks afterwards are because their TN was caused from a dental procedure. I wonder. My biggest issue was having anything cold in my mouth. That would cause horrific TN pain.
Thanks so much Patty for the very sweet reply!!!! However, I caved into my fears and didn't go, lol. Now its plan B that I am working on. I am searching for a dentist that is not as far away from home, so if I am out of it from all the meds I have to take before and after the dental procedure, like my neurosurgeon suggested, I wont have far to drive in a zombie state. That was part of my fear before the dentist apt, how do I drive 40mins back home with all this trileptal in me, making me so tired and out of it....But you rock lady and hugs to you back. I see how you always welcome all the newbies like I used to be only a couple months ago, and it is sooo nice of you and I imagine time consuming ... you are an angel Patty :)
Patty said:
It is totally understandable Scared & Angry Gal. You offered up the most tender and sensitive part of your body. I hope you are doing okay. Hugs
Angel schmangel. I so appreciate your kind words. Those words make the journey easier. I don’t even drive with just my daily meds. I can not imagine driving at all with all the extra meds in me. You do this filling when you are ready. You are a brave soul and can do this.
you are not only sweet Patty, you are funny too :) Thanks for your support, it means a lot!!!
Patty said:
Angel schmangel. I so appreciate your kind words. Those words make the journey easier. I don't even drive with just my daily meds. I can not imagine driving at all with all the extra meds in me. You do this filling when you are ready. You are a brave soul and can do this.
When I go into the dentist, I am adamant that they do not put any type of epinephrine in with the numbing agent. It means I do not stay numb as long, but I do not risk having the nerve irrated due to it. I am going to the dentist on Feb 14 to have four cavities filled, and 2 veneers replaced. I am scared to death, but for the first time in years, the fact I will have a pretty smile is a big draw.
Scared & Angry gal said:
thanks so much for getting back to me, could it be that your root canals that hurt afterwards was because you had novacaine shots with it and the root canal you had without shots didn't hurt for long afterwards. that's what the theory that is out there says, that the shots and in particular the epinephrine in them, is , in and of itself , an irritant to the nerve... interesting about how your pain got triggered from the cold as well. anyways, like your artwork in your picture profile :)
ihold said:The first time I had 2 root canals done I had horrible TN pain for weeks afterwards. That was one of the reasons why I waited in going to a dentist again. When I went to this dentist, it was not as bad. I don't know if it's that he was just a lot more careful when he was working on me than the precious dentist or what. I had a lot of pain the day of, but I don't think it was that much worse afterwards. I don't know if this helps but my TN was not caused by a dental procedure. I don't know if maybe the people that get affected more for weeks afterwards are because their TN was caused from a dental procedure. I wonder. My biggest issue was having anything cold in my mouth. That would cause horrific TN pain.
Thanks for the reply Saraiderin!!! Yeah, do all dentists have access to these shots without epinephrine? Or is it something they just don't add, to the regular mix? Good luck to you. You are a brave soul, and doing it on Valentine's day on top of it yet!!! You may want to start back up on meds the day before, day of and day after, or if you are taking meds already, up the dose on those 3 days as well, just for an added nerve protector along with the no ephinephrine shot. Thanks again!!!
Thank you sooooo much Cleo for those research articles above. I only read the first one, but it was FASCINATING. I want to say that again. It was very very interesting. However, now I am really scared of going to the dentist, lol... So, I learned so much. I learned to tell the dentist, DONT use 4%prilocaine or 4& articaine shots to numb. Yeah, lack of epinephrine is better than having epinephrine in the shot, but its not a 100% sure bet either, especially if the dentist is using this 4% deally. I learned that their is evidence to suggest that chronic numbness and other symptoms from nerve injuries are more likely to be due to the Combination of knicking the nerve with the shot AND the toxicity of the stuff in the shot itself!!!! You know, why don't dentists tell you this stuff....we got to find this all out ourselves. I want an honorary dental degree now for knowing all this stuff, lol. And I also learned I should have called up the United states drug screwup hotline, lol... I cant think of the name right now, after my darn dentist did this to me. Lastly, I learned that this is more prevalent than they say, because they sure got a lot of data from a lot of unhappy campers with nerve damage, and this was all from folks who Voluntary called this FDA hotline or whatever its called... Can you imagine all the folks out there like me, who have never called there and told their story. Thanks so much Cleo for putting that one here. You rock. I am not even ready right now to read the next article.... I will though, perhaps tomorrow. I love learning and I love that I learned more about what could have happened to me and others. Thanks again Cleo!!!!
Thanks so much Cleo. So this happened to you 13-14 yrs ago? It will be just a yr for me, this coming March 25. I keep on thinking with every dental procedure I get, it will aggravate the trigeminal nerve more and make it much worse through time, until 13-14 yrs from now I will be in tremendous pain 24/7. How have you handled this journey? Are you taking meds? Which one(s)?Has the pain gotten worse for you over the years? I am still trying to find a good local neurologist, I saw a great one out of state, but now I need to find one more locally as well.