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I had a root canal just yesterday and also have some ptsd from bad procedures when I was younger. What has helped me is mindfulness meditation and bringing som

I had a root canal just yesterday and also have some ptsd from bad procedures when I was younger. What has helped me is mindfulness meditation and bringing some sort of fidget/distraction thing to keep in my hands. My endodontist's chairs have massagers in them, which is also a nice distracting/calming sensation. Every time I've considered gas, I've chickened out because I get scared that I'll be left in some half incapacitated paralyzed state or something. Irrational paranoia, but it is what it is.

whatshisface 5y ago
General anesthesia is relatively dangerous, probably the most dangerous part of many surgeries, so I'm not sure how irrational you are.
- i80and 5y ago
  Gas in a dental context is usually referring to nitrous oxide, or "laughing gas", not general anesthesia.
post_break 5y ago
Try the gas next time. The first time they had it turned up too much and I was beginning to float to heaven but after that it’s been just what I need. A small dose and I relax into the chair.
- kwhitefoot 5y ago
  Is this some US only thing? I had gas once as a child in the UK in the early 1960s. I haven't heard of anything similar being used in many decades except in hospitals for really serious dental surgery of a kind that isn't done by ordinary dentists. For ordinary fillings, fitting crowns, and so on I don't usually have any anaesthesia at all any more. This is not because I am immune to pain but because my dentists are good enough to not cause any. This is in Norway, perhaps they are better trained or have a different attitude to the US and UK?
  - post_break 5y ago
    It’s a US thing. My dentist is very good and the topical numbing stuff they use is powerful enough to not feel the needle going in. But gas is available to help those with phobias or anxiety.
    - dbcurtis 5y ago
      Even most US dentists are reluctant to use it in my experience. Ours has it in the back corner, though. My wife likes to get a whiff before the numbing injections so that the injections don’t hurt so much. It helps with the anxiety, as you say. I don’t think it is as effective at blocking procedure pain as the more modern anesthetics.
      - kwhitefoot 5y ago
        My Norwegian dentist, on the rare occasions that he uses any numbing injection, drips some on the injection site first then as he pushes the needle in he also pushes the plunger down. He takes it very slowly so that the only discomfort is the physical effort of holding my jaw still against the pressure. A big contrast to butcher who did my last filling in the UK before I emigrated.
NitrousBro 5y ago
"the gas" meaning "nitrous oxide?" It's a sedative, not anesthesia. It isn't dangerous and doesn't do much but help you relax, it doesn't reduce pain.

whatshisface 5y ago

General anesthesia is relatively dangerous, probably the most dangerous part of many surgeries, so I'm not sure how irrational you are.

i80and 5y ago
Gas in a dental context is usually referring to nitrous oxide, or "laughing gas", not general anesthesia.

post_break 5y ago

Try the gas next time. The first time they had it turned up too much and I was beginning to float to heaven but after that it’s been just what I need. A small dose and I relax into the chair.

kwhitefoot 5y ago
Is this some US only thing? I had gas once as a child in the UK in the early 1960s. I haven't heard of anything similar being used in many decades except in hospitals for really serious dental surgery of a kind that isn't done by ordinary dentists. For ordinary fillings, fitting crowns, and so on I don't usually have any anaesthesia at all any more. This is not because I am immune to pain but because my dentists are good enough to not cause any. This is in Norway, perhaps they are better trained or have a different attitude to the US and UK?
- post_break 5y ago
  It’s a US thing. My dentist is very good and the topical numbing stuff they use is powerful enough to not feel the needle going in. But gas is available to help those with phobias or anxiety.
  - dbcurtis 5y ago
    Even most US dentists are reluctant to use it in my experience. Ours has it in the back corner, though. My wife likes to get a whiff before the numbing injections so that the injections don’t hurt so much. It helps with the anxiety, as you say. I don’t think it is as effective at blocking procedure pain as the more modern anesthetics.
    - kwhitefoot 5y ago
      My Norwegian dentist, on the rare occasions that he uses any numbing injection, drips some on the injection site first then as he pushes the needle in he also pushes the plunger down. He takes it very slowly so that the only discomfort is the physical effort of holding my jaw still against the pressure. A big contrast to butcher who did my last filling in the UK before I emigrated.

NitrousBro 5y ago

"the gas" meaning "nitrous oxide?" It's a sedative, not anesthesia. It isn't dangerous and doesn't do much but help you relax, it doesn't reduce pain.