So what are your thoughts on laughing gas?

[Pool Hall Ace]

I had a crown lengthening done this morning (scraping away of gum and bone from a tooth). I've never had one before, and I really thought that I would be pretty casual about it. They shot me up with novocaine and were preparing to get digging, and I started to get really nervous.

The dentist suggested laughing gas might be a good idea. I said OK. The mask was smaller than I was expecting; it barely covered my nose. I started to freak a little bit; I felt like I was suffocating. The mask was removed, and I started to sob a little bit. I asked if I could have Versed. The dentist said not now, since I had already eaten breakfast. I told him I couldn't recall having laughing gas before. He said that if I had, I would like it. One more attempt was made with the laughing gas, but I just couldn't stand having the mask on my face.

Gradually, I started to relax, and I made it through the procedure okay. I apologized to the dentist and the assistant for being such a weenie, but they said no problem, I did fine. The novocaine has now worn off, I have a few stitches in my mouth, plus a supply of antibiotics and pain killers (including Vicodin).

I was wondering if there was anyone else who doesn't always do so well at the dentist's office? And do you think it is unusual that I would prefer an IV to a gas mask? Because coming up next is a root canal.

[Deja Q]

1. OUCH! I'm so sorry that stuff doesn't work with you...

:hug:

I'd go for the IV next time, if possible.

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Laughing gas? I can't...~~ Can't~~~~ ___----

OMG!



PS Sorry it was a tough time for you at the dentist. laughing gas actually makes me sick to my stomach.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

3. IV definitely.

I feel like I'm about to suffocate when I have laughing gas. I had it once and sobbed my way to unconsciousness.

:scared:

[CTyankee]

4. LOVE IT!

I have it twice a year when I have my gums deep cleaned by the periodontist. I don't care if anybody calls me a weenie, I DON'T DO PAIN. What difference does it makeif you are relaxed when they work on your teeth and gums?

I wish my dentist would use gas. I had a temporary crown taken off and a permanent one put on and it was nerve-wracking. I was horribly tense the whole time. Gas is safe and you can drive afterwards with no after effects.

Go for the nitrous oxide!

[mark414]

5. it is good recreationally

though not something that you want to do frequently, as you will be unable to form sentences for a couple days after a decent nitrous binge - though it's no worse for you than a night of heavy drinking

wait for some mushrooms or acid to start kicking in and THEN suck down a couple balloons....ohhhh man

PS me and my friends invented THIS:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nitrous+bong+rip

edited to add the picture:

[mad-mommy]

6. try music?

I was at the dentist as well this week. Novacaine only. I really hate going. I find the noise drives me more crazy than anything. I thought about when I had my wisdom teeth out, I had the gas, and I listened to music on headphones. Maybe you can try the music? Since you got through it without the gas...maybe the music alone would take the edge off?

[catmandu57]

7. Luv it Luv it Luv it

but not that little piddly ass ammount the dentist gives you, nah go big. I went to a three day music fest in 1974, there were people there who had a large tank of nitrous, they were selling huge balloons of it for a quarter apiece. I mean these balloons were huge three foot long about two around big, big, honking balloon full of gas.
What you did with these balloons was to breathe the gas in, there were people laying in the street laughing hysterically, everybody was having a good time.
I was on my fourth balloon when I collapsed to the ground and it felt like I was falling forword head over heals in deep space with things whizzing by my head and twinkling sounds, it was beautiful, I remember thinking wow I'm dead, being dead is cool.
Then some guy shook me awake and said hey man you're losing your gas.
Ervery since then I've always looked forword to dental work, put the mask on man I'll huff that stuff down as hard as I can.

edit: too damn excited I had to fix my spelling

[u4ic]

8. Many dentists do iv sedation

I've never needed it; I take a meditation tape with me and I'm okay (though I do meditate on regular basis, and have those skills).

Mind you, I've got a great dentist.

I've only had laughing gas once, that I can remember; to get my wisdom teeth out about 20 years ago. I said a good many things that I shouldn't have to my dentist afterwards. :blush: It made me very...uninhibited. :rofl:

I stay away from it now.

[AngryAmish]

9. Love it

Really, it is the best. Last time I had work done (after 18 years) I got all the nitrous I wanted and watched Anchorman during the procedure. I love my dentist!

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. I won't take the stuff

Had it a couple times when I was about 15. Caused major panic attacks.

Sedation dentistry for me, man. A little blue pill before the visit, and ding!

[Pool Hall Ace]

19. Ah! A pill! My interest is piqued.

That sounds like it might be even better than IV sedation. Were you able to eat beforehand?

[Oeditpus Rex]

20. Not that morning, no

But then, I had the work done at like 8 a.m.

[Sanity Claws]

11. I had it once -- terrible experience

I had it once and it was horrible. The gas made the room spin and I hated the mask. I ended up crying uncontrollably. I stayed away from the dentist for several years following this.
This year I needed a root canal and had to go to the dentist. This time I was given a tiny dose of Ambien. This worked so much better.

[lizziegrace]

12. I love it

wish I had some now. :(

The music gets all twisted and out of tune, but the dentist and I never had the same musical taste anyway. I was aware of what's going on, but after the gas wears off, I really didn't remember any of it.

[mitchum]

13. I had a double IV drip of liquid Demerol and Valium...

and am now convinced that oral surgery is even better than oral sex

[Pool Hall Ace]

21. I ought to tell my husband that one; he'll love it!

:rofl:

[querelle]

14. Well...........

Every time I pass gas my partner laughs. Does that count?

Q

[Broken_Hero]

15. no opinion

never had it, but it sounds interesting...:)

[datasuspect]

16. my thoughts? kinda disordered.

[Left Is Write]

17. I always just have Novocaine.

Getting Novocaine doesn't bother me in the least, but gas is kind of nauseating for me.

[WI_DEM]

18. I hate it when someone laughs after they fart

[jus_the_facts]

22. I loooove it...they always ask me if I feel it yet and I always say NO....

...so they turn it UP..my dentist allows headphones too...so I'm STONED and ROCKIN' while he stabs that novacaine all around my gums and whatever else needs doin'. :headbang:

[grannylib]

23. I don't find it does much for pain or anything, but it's a KILLER cure for

cold sores...

[LadyoftheRabbits]

24. It was a lot of fun...

For me. I had four permanent teeth removed once, and before the IV (I was nervous) they gave me laughing gas. One of the techs thought it'd be funny to ask me where Four Corners was, so I said "Oregon, Washington, Alabama, and Colorado." :eyes: :P

[astonamous]

25. It's funny! n/t

[TommyO]

26. Thumbs up, though never used it for dental work.

I've tried it a few times, um, er, recreationally, and it was an incredible experience - actually did it with a doctor who knew the dangers, and THERE ARE DANGERS . The problem isn't the nitrous, but your body's reaction as you're coming out of it.

[RoyGBiv]

27. It makes me violent ...

Yes, you read that right.

The first time I had so-called "laughing gas" I was eight. I basically zoned out, and when the dentist started to work on me, I grabbed his arm with one hand just as he was starting to poke and prod and punched him in the face with the other. Naturally, he refused to work on me after that. I went to another dentist shortly thereafter, got the gas, went somewhere else in my head, but didn't attack anyone this time. I just started screaming and thrashing about ... before he even touched me. I have no recall of any of this. The most I remember is going to the office and having the mask put on my face. After that, total blank.

It took a third time for anyone to make the connection of what was going on. I do remember this. I got the gas and within minutes started feeling violently ill, like my stomach was going to crawl up out of my gut and dance on my head. It wasn't just extreme nausea. It was extreme pain with nausea. I told the dentist what was happening, and he turned everything off, saying I was have a very bad reaction and should not be given gas. He gave me oxygen for about half an hour, and I got better.

Since then, it's been novacaine, or from the dental surgeon, a valium and some sort of opiate in an IV.

I don't know of anyone else who has ever reacted like this, so don't take me as an example. It's very weird, and it kinda pisses me off since I know almost everyone who has it says it makes trips to the dentist much easier.

[BlueStorm]

28. My best high ever...

My dentist actually advised me to use the gas since I am so nervous when I go. It's the noise that creeps me out with all of those drills...(shudders) Guess I still have that image of the evil dentist from "Little Shop of Horrors" in my mind.

But once I got on the nitrous...whoo baby I just took off!!!


Blue

[PittPoliSci]

29. HILARIOUS!

[flvegan]

30. Whip-Its are bad, mmmkay.

Sure, they feel good at the time. Make your lips blue, your mouth taste sorta funny...but in the long run, nobody wins. Besides, I don't think they can recycle those little canisters.

[In_The_Wind]

31. Dentist and I don't get along without laughing gas.

I've had extractions while I was totally under but I think gas is enough for most root canal work. I've had several.

The worst part is the shots of Novocaine. I can only tolerate that if the Epinephrine is left out otherwise I become to jittery. :scared:

[Omphaloskepsis]

32. I have to have it...

My dentist fucks me up with it during a cleaning. Best 25$ I could ever spend.

[elocs]

33. I had work done with it 30 years ago.

I hadn't been to a dentist in ten years because the one I had as a kid was so bad. I went to this dentist because he was fanatical about not causing pain. He gave me gas and I couldn't have cared what they did to my teeth. It felt like they were working on my teeth about 2 feet away from my mouth. I till go to this dentist because he is good and I still have permanent bridges on both lower sides. I started seeing this dentist when he was just out of dental school and was a bachelor and I have seen him get married, have kids, and all of his kids have now grown up.

[swag]

34. Good stuff,, that.

Sacred too.

[gkdmaths]

35. I never take anything while at the dentist

except when I had my wisdom teeth removed (Gas + pentobarb).

I do, however, like nitrous as a recreational inhalant at random times, like when I can bring a lecture bottle home from the lab. But dont tell anyone I told you that.

:evilgrin: