What has happened with Dentists and sedation

[NancyL]

During my last operation at CM RAM I was put under by an anesthetist who used a Gas.

On the table, surgeon waiting, a lady anesthetist said 'Just like oxygen', placed a clear mask over my nose and mouth and it was literally two/three breaths and next I was waking up in recovery room.

No idea what gas she used, tasteless and odorless, no ill effects, just B5,000 anenthestist's fee.

john

I start having stomach turning events the moment I see a dentist chair. No dentist has ever caused me any pain, psychological I understand.

Was this a dental procedure? I have spoken with CM RAM in depth and they are telling me that they do not provide any sedation or gas for dental care.

Sounds like he had some surgery, but not "dental care". This year I've had major dental work done at CM Ram (multiple crowns) and found the dentist was very careful to make sure I felt no pain. She used injections to numb my mouth and first swabbed a numbing gel on my gums prior to injecting. Several of the work sessions lasted more than three hours and if found I was feeling pain, all I had to do was squirm a bit and she stopped, asked if I had problem and soon she was injecting me again.

Ahead of the first multi-hour appointment, I took a Xanax someone had given me, but found I was getting drowsy in the chair and the dentist kept having to ask me to "open wider". Maybe this is one reason they don't want an unconscious patient. I know that I had a role in the crown procedures. Often, I was instructed to "bite", "grind left", "grind right" and perform other oral maneuvers so the dentist could check her work.

[Asiantravel]

Avoid any dental clinic which offers "sedation"

Such techniques should only ever be used within a hospital environment.

If no hospital dental department in Chiang Mai will accept the very real risk associated with providing "sedation" you should go to one of the major

Bangkok hospitals/dental hospitals where such a service would be available.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Nitrous Oxide is available in almost every Dentist in the US, even the small offices. Light "sedation" is available, in office, at most medium to large dental clinics. IV sedation is reserved for the large clinics, but still not a hospital environment. My ex was a PA for an Anesthesiologist for many years so I am well aware of any risks involved. If we want to scare monger, even receiving an inoculation, injection, or minor cut can be fatal under the wrong circumstances.

I believe that in America many dentists if not most receive training in anaesthesiology (i.e. how to safely administer a general anaesthetic)as part of the qualification procedurewhereas when I asked my dentist here in Thailand about this is appears this is not included

Edited May 11, 2016 by Asiantravel

[xylophone]

Thank you to all the posters, because after all I have read on here and after my horrendous experience at the dentists, I decided to go to Bangkok Phuket hospital to check out if they used nitrous oxide or similar, and much to my amazement, they do!

So I have made an appointment to see the orthodontist specialist on Saturday to look into the problems I am having with the work I had previously done, and to see if more work is needed, then I am so happy that I can go under the influence of nitrous oxide or similar if I need further dental work.

All as a result of this thread, so thank you to all.

[TheSiemReaper]

Cambodia's dentists, which are excellent (unlike all other forms of healthcare in that country), will happily get you baked on whatever you need to get your teeth done. It's also cheaper than Thailand.

[cmth]

Thank you to all the posters, because after all I have read on here and after my horrendous experience at the dentists, I decided to go to Bangkok Phuket hospital to check out if they used nitrous oxide or similar, and much to my amazement, they do!

So I have made an appointment to see the orthodontist specialist on Saturday to look into the problems I am having with the work I had previously done, and to see if more work is needed, then I am so happy that I can go under the influence of nitrous oxide or similar if I need further dental work.

All as a result of this thread, so thank you to all.

Did they quote a price? Either way keep me updated.

[elektrified]

During my last operation at CM RAM I was put under by an anesthetist who used a Gas.

On the table, surgeon waiting, a lady anesthetist said 'Just like oxygen', placed a clear mask over my nose and mouth and it was literally two/three breaths and next I was waking up in recovery room.

No idea what gas she used, tasteless and odorless, no ill effects, just B5,000 anenthestist's fee.

john

I start having stomach turning events the moment I see a dentist chair. No dentist has ever caused me any pain, psychological I understand.

Are you sure??? she probably injected Propofol into your IV line. Especially for 5K THB. I had a procedure at RAM and they also put the clear mask on but I could see the milky white substance in the IV which is propofol. I also took about 3 breaths and next woke up in the recovery room. But it was from Propofol.

[xylophone]

Thank you to all the posters, because after all I have read on here and after my horrendous experience at the dentists, I decided to go to Bangkok Phuket hospital to check out if they used nitrous oxide or similar, and much to my amazement, they do!

So I have made an appointment to see the orthodontist specialist on Saturday to look into the problems I am having with the work I had previously done, and to see if more work is needed, then I am so happy that I can go under the influence of nitrous oxide or similar if I need further dental work.

All as a result of this thread, so thank you to all.

Did they quote a price? Either way keep me updated.

No price asked or quoted as this visit is a consultation to see what, if anything, can be done.........will enquire as to the price and let you know.

Made my day to know that relatively pain free dentistry is available in Phuket (and probably at other Bangkok hospitals around the country).

[uptheos]

During my last operation at CM RAM I was put under by an anesthetist who used a Gas.

On the table, surgeon waiting, a lady anesthetist said 'Just like oxygen', placed a clear mask over my nose and mouth and it was literally two/three breaths and next I was waking up in recovery room.

No idea what gas she used, tasteless and odorless, no ill effects, just B5,000 anenthestist's fee.

john

I start having stomach turning events the moment I see a dentist chair. No dentist has ever caused me any pain, psychological I understand.

Was this a dental procedure? I have spoken with CM RAM in depth and they are telling me that they do not provide any sedation or gas for dental care.

Sounds like he had some surgery, but not "dental care". This year I've had major dental work done at CM Ram (multiple crowns) and found the dentist was very careful to make sure I felt no pain. She used injections to numb my mouth and first swabbed a numbing gel on my gums prior to injecting. Several of the work sessions lasted more than three hours and if found I was feeling pain, all I had to do was squirm a bit and she stopped, asked if I had problem and soon she was injecting me again.

Ahead of the first multi-hour appointment, I took a Xanax someone had given me, but found I was getting drowsy in the chair and the dentist kept having to ask me to "open wider". Maybe this is one reason they don't want an unconscious patient. I know that I had a role in the crown procedures. Often, I was instructed to "bite", "grind left", "grind right" and perform other oral maneuvers so the dentist could check her work.

Sounds like you had a considerate, careful dentist. Would you mind sharing her name please?

[NancyL]

During my last operation at CM RAM I was put under by an anesthetist who used a Gas.

On the table, surgeon waiting, a lady anesthetist said 'Just like oxygen', placed a clear mask over my nose and mouth and it was literally two/three breaths and next I was waking up in recovery room.

No idea what gas she used, tasteless and odorless, no ill effects, just B5,000 anenthestist's fee.

john

I start having stomach turning events the moment I see a dentist chair. No dentist has ever caused me any pain, psychological I understand.

Was this a dental procedure? I have spoken with CM RAM in depth and they are telling me that they do not provide any sedation or gas for dental care.

Sounds like he had some surgery, but not "dental care". This year I've had major dental work done at CM Ram (multiple crowns) and found the dentist was very careful to make sure I felt no pain. She used injections to numb my mouth and first swabbed a numbing gel on my gums prior to injecting. Several of the work sessions lasted more than three hours and if found I was feeling pain, all I had to do was squirm a bit and she stopped, asked if I had problem and soon she was injecting me again.

Ahead of the first multi-hour appointment, I took a Xanax someone had given me, but found I was getting drowsy in the chair and the dentist kept having to ask me to "open wider". Maybe this is one reason they don't want an unconscious patient. I know that I had a role in the crown procedures. Often, I was instructed to "bite", "grind left", "grind right" and perform other oral maneuvers so the dentist could check her work.

Sounds like you had a considerate, careful dentist. Would you mind sharing her name please?

It's Dr. Nattiya. She's a professor at CMU and just works at CM Ram on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Her specialty is restorative dentistry, but she'll do other less complicated procedures, too. I asked her about a root canal for a friend and she says she doesn't do them.

[uptheos]

It's Dr. Nattiya. She's a professor at CMU and just works at CM Ram on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Her specialty is restorative dentistry, but she'll do other less complicated procedures, too. I asked her about a root canal for a friend and she says she doesn't do them.

Thank you

Dr Joy at Elite is an excellent endodontist for root canals.

Edited May 12, 2016 by uptheos

[xylophone]

Thank you to all the posters, because after all I have read on here and after my horrendous experience at the dentists, I decided to go to Bangkok Phuket hospital to check out if they used nitrous oxide or similar, and much to my amazement, they do!

So I have made an appointment to see the orthodontist specialist on Saturday to look into the problems I am having with the work I had previously done, and to see if more work is needed, then I am so happy that I can go under the influence of nitrous oxide or similar if I need further dental work.

All as a result of this thread, so thank you to all.

Did they quote a price? Either way keep me updated.

Went along today to get the consultation and they took a few x-rays and the Dr (dentist) was very gentle and very good when doing an examination of the dental work already in place. His name is Dr Supachai at Bangkok Phuket Hospital for any local people in Phuket who may be interested.

Looks like I may have to have a root canal because of an infection at the base of one tooth (in the jaw) and not looking forward to it because they have to drill through a titanium crown!!! When the doctor explained this, I again asked whether I could have sedation or gas and he said both were available although I don't know the cost as I will not be undergoing the procedure until next week.

Will keep you in the loop if you like– – mainly because if Bangkok Phuket hospital use sedation, then there's a very good chance that other Bangkok hospitals also do.

[cmth]

Thank you to all the posters, because after all I have read on here and after my horrendous experience at the dentists, I decided to go to Bangkok Phuket hospital to check out if they used nitrous oxide or similar, and much to my amazement, they do!

So I have made an appointment to see the orthodontist specialist on Saturday to look into the problems I am having with the work I had previously done, and to see if more work is needed, then I am so happy that I can go under the influence of nitrous oxide or similar if I need further dental work.

All as a result of this thread, so thank you to all.

Did they quote a price? Either way keep me updated.

Went along today to get the consultation and they took a few x-rays and the Dr (dentist) was very gentle and very good when doing an examination of the dental work already in place. His name is Dr Supachai at Bangkok Phuket Hospital for any local people in Phuket who may be interested.

Looks like I may have to have a root canal because of an infection at the base of one tooth (in the jaw) and not looking forward to it because they have to drill through a titanium crown!!! When the doctor explained this, I again asked whether I could have sedation or gas and he said both were available although I don't know the cost as I will not be undergoing the procedure until next week.

Will keep you in the loop if you like– – mainly because if Bangkok Phuket hospital use sedation, then there's a very good chance that other Bangkok hospitals also do.

Yes. Please keep me updated. I am very interested to see what they do and how much it costs. Thanks.

[xylophone]

Just back from my first visit and a bit sore.

Although sedation was available for me I didn't actually have it this time because the dentist started to work on my bottom bridge (a bridge with four crowns on it). This was the one which he was going to drill through in order to get to the root canal underneath, however when I told him that the dentist who put my bridges in had used temporary cement. He was amazed because it was two years ago and he then suggested he knew why I have a root canal problem– –because if temporary cement is put in and not replaced with permanent cement it tends to spread and allows air and moisture in and he suggested that this could be the cause of more problems!

And it was............. because when he eventually managed to get this bridge-crown off there was a hell of a mess underneath (not to mention an awful smell) and one tooth had started to disintegrate and the x-ray showed another infection at the root of the tooth next door. So I had to have three root canals done on two teeth, quite a few injections in the individual teeth/gums which I didn't mind too much because it's the ones in the roof of the mouth which I hate, and of course he had to get the equipment to take off the bridge crown and also clean the bloody thing out.

He wanted to take this one step at a time so the root canals have been flushed out with some sort of antibiotic and packed with another one and the bridge/crown has been put back in, and a follow-up visit is necessary in three weeks to do another root canal on the disintegrating tooth and have a look at the same thing on the other side of my mouth on the bottom jaw because the same seems to be happening there.

When it comes to the bridges on the upper side of my jaw I will certainly ask for sedation because I just cannot stand anything going into that area (palate)– – excruciating for me.

Total cost for this one visit for the above was 23,000 baht and that included about eight injections.

I really wish I could name and shame the dentist in the South of Phuket who did this because he has made an absolute mess of it and as I said, two other bridge/crowns are still held in place with temporary cement, which should not be the case after two years. Not only that, I was in agony when I was having this done two years ago and every bridge/crown that was put in fell out, sometimes within half an hour and this would have happened about 10 times, and a few more times after a couple of days. The cost from this particular dentist was 140,000 baht and I have a feeling that remedying the rubbish which he has put in my mouth will be the same cost again, if indeed I can get away without having to have some implants or the like because I feel that's what it is coming down to.

In summary, what I have seen so far from Bangkok hospital has been very good and the dentist was superb.......and of course sedation is available if I want it and I will make use of it as I said above.

[cmth]

Thanks for the update. Did they quote a price for the sedation?

[xylophone]

Thanks for the update. Did they quote a price for the sedation?

Sorry cmth, forgot to ask what with all that was going on, will know when they do the top set, but IMO it cannot be that much more expensive (I hope) after all it is just an extra/small addition to what they're going to do.

In summary, what I have experience so far with Bangkok hospital has been good, and at least you know they will do sedation if you want it and as far as I'm concerned I don't really care about the cost (although as I said I don't think it can be much more) provided the pain is minimised.

Now that I/you know sedation is available, then perhaps no problems with going for it? Good luck if you do (and I will keep you in the loop anyway).

[NancyL]

Perhaps there is just some benefit in just knowing that sedation is available if you'd like/need it, that gives you a sense of security and creates a calming effect, rather than having a dentist say "you won't need it", when you suspect that's just a cover for "I can't provide it".

That can make the higher price dentist in a hospital setting like Bangkok Hospital a "value" vs. trying to get by with a dental "clinic" operating out of a storefront. People do have very real medical emergencies during dental procedures and it's nice to know there's a fully equipped E/R just a few meters away.

Personally, I've used the dental clinic at CM Ram for years partially for this reason. And it's good that the dentists at CM Ram still adhere to appointment times and don't keep patients waiting vs. many of the other doctors at Ram.

[justmaybe]

Two weeks ago I experienced a situation I've dreaded for years: needing a dentist while on a trip to the US rather than at home in CM. An overage wisdom tooth began acting up dramatically and required extraction. Days before my departure, I was advised by my CM dentist [Dental4U] that there was a problem ahead with the tooth, but had no time to address it.

My first instinct was to cut short the trip and return to Chiang Mai. I weighed the expense of the trip against the likely complication and expense of many layers of the US dental industry.

Then I noticed and consulted this thread. I'm very satisfied with the dental care I've received for many years in CM, yet I've never managed to get nitrous from a Thai dentist, even when specified and confirmed in advance [at a well-known clinic off Nimman].

That settled it. The next day I found a local US dentist with a 4pm opening and a full tank of NO₂. Nitrous oxide numbs (in addition to other novocaine-like injections) and relieves tension but it doesn't knock the adult patient senseless. No confusing it with Propofol in my experience.

It was a simple job and not expensive. At first he doubted there was actually a problem..... and at the end complimented the CM dentist for finding what he did not spot.