Dental question

[SteveK]

Hi,

 

Hopefully someone with a dental background can answer this question for me. Preferably someone who understands how stupid the UK dental system is.

 

I have had a large filling in one of my molars since I was a child. About 2 years it fell out and I had a temporary filling put in, which took about 10 seconds and was easy, by an emergency clinic. The temporary one is fine, but it won't last much longer.

 

No problem, you think. Get a permanent one put back in. Easy.

 

However, I have an issue whereby I gag and eventually vomit after about a minute of the dentist having their finger in my mouth, so was told to make an appointment in the UK with a clinic which gives you drugs and sedates you. However, I have been jumping through hoops for 2 years and so far been unable to do this because I don't have a regular dentist in the UK and could not get the referral I need. Also I have not been able to find a clinic in Thailand which even knows what I am talking about.

 

So when the temporary filling eventually falls out, I will have a molar with the guts of the tooth exposed to the inside of my mouth. What's the worst that could happen? How long would it take to fall out? I just want shot of the bloody thing, getting treatment has been impossible.

 

Cheers.

[BobBKK]

Good luck I have been trying to find a 'pain free' dentist here for years. Especially the cold laser dentistry that you can get (no drugs, no injections). Hope you find something and good luck.

[SteveK]

If not, it's a bottle of lao khao and a pair of pliers.

[Oxx]

2 hours ago, pr9spk said:

I don't have a regular dentist in the UK and could not get the referral I need.

 

Just go private.  No referral needed.

 

 

[SteveK]

I looked into private and it came out at over £900. I would rather keep the money and let the tooth die.

[BobBKK]

Just now, pr9spk said:

I looked into private and it came out at over £900. I would rather keep the money and let the tooth die.

Found this guy:

 

http://www.kitchaclinic.com/dentalservice/pain-free-sedation-dentist-chiang-mai-with-nitrous-oxide/

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, pr9spk said:

I looked into private and it came out at over £900. I would rather keep the money and let the tooth die.

 

That could end up costing you a lot more.

 

Anyway, Googling "sedation dentist bangkok" returns a few results.

[Sheryl]

As toi your question of what is the worse that could happen:

 

1. Infection and loss of the tooth altogther

2. Infection into the jaw leading to extreme pain and inpatient hospitalization for months of IV antibiotics.

(google osteomyeltitis + jaw)

 

So just leaving it, is not an option.

 

To have dental work under sedation you should have it done at the dental department of a hospital.

 

[geriatrickid]

 Anesthesia is a  high risk procedure. Prospective patients do not understand, nor appreciate the danger.  Basically, drugs are administered to overpower the body's natural controls and mechanisms. It requires respiration and heart function to be closely monitored. When people die on the operating table or have  a seizure or a complication, it is often because of the anesthesia.

 

Some patients have hypersensitivity due to physical reasons, like an enlarged uvula. I get it. In those  rare cases where there is a physical need, there are options such as mild sedation, and/or the use of a topical anesthetic. For example, when I had to have my tonsils examined, the  specialist numbed my throat with a spray and then went to the  races shoving his hand down my throat. I didn't gag at all.

 

I have no empathy for a patient who has a psychological problem like fear of the dentist or gagging.  IMO, a dentist who hesitates to provide anesthesia for a non complex procedure is a responsible professional, and is well advised to  avoid a patient who insists on the procedure.There are just too many other issues with these types of patients that they are not worth the aggravation and potential complications .  That's not to dismiss  what is a serious  concern for you. Rather, it is to provide insight into how many dentists will approach the situation.  

Edited May 10, 2018 by geriatrickid

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, geriatrickid said:

I have no empathy for a patient who has a psychological problem like ... gagging.

 

And what makes you think gagging is a "psychological problem"? It's a reflex reaction.

 

And as for "high risk", it rather depends upon how you define "high".  Death rate is around 3 cases per million (source:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5535496/ ).  In Thailand in 2012 there were 24,237 deaths from driving - that's 352/million.  You'd need to have more than 100 episodes of anaesthesia a year to match the carnage on Thailand's road.

[KittenKong]

Good luck I have been trying to find a 'pain free' dentist here for years. Especially the cold laser dentistry that you can get (no drugs, no injections).

I've had four implants and the same number of extractions done here, and some deep cleaning below the gum line, all performed under local (injected) anaesthetic and without any pain at all. None, either during or after the procedures. And my gums are extremely sensitive. So I suspect that you simply have been to lot of very bad dentists.

[sirocco]

Yes, KittenKong, post 11,
and where is your good-dentist-who-does-not-hurt ? Thank you
Have a good day

[SteveK]

I'm not scared of dentists, or a bit of pain. But I gag to the extent where the dentist just gives up, so I need some strong drugs to sedate me, or so I was told by a dentist in the UK.

[KittenKong]

where is your good-dentist-who-does-not-hurt ?

I actually use two dentists. One at Phyathai hospital, Sri Racha, for the implants and extractions. I and others have mentioned her many times on here. And for the cleaning I sometimes go to one near BigC now, because it's closer, though generally my experiences with dentists in Pattaya have been less good.
Getting local dentists to use enough anaesthetic when cleaning can be a real issue, and you just have to insist.

[sirocco]

Hello KittenKong, 
Thanks for the answer, but no need to show your teeth, huh.
It would have been enough to renot the address in your message. It would have taken 4 more seconds.
We got up with our left foot?  

[KittenKong]

Thanks for the answer, but no need to show your teeth, huh.

It would have been enough to renot the address in your message. It would have taken 4 more seconds.
We got up with our left foot?

It isnt possible to edit posts after such a long time. Also it seemed that the question merited a more detailed reply, so I gave one.

I have no idea what the rest of your comment means. You asked for information and I gave it. If you dont like the way I answered that's your problem.