Please let me know.
Do they put you to sleep to fix a toothache?
What is the procedure like for a toothache fix?
Disclaimer: The information in this website should not be used as a substitute for the care and advice of your personal dentist or another physician.
#1 by Trish JPA and Jewish Pastafarian on February 8, 2010 - 6:09 pm
Generally speaking, your dentist will use a small amount of topical anesthetic gel to numb your gums. Then, he’ll inject a painkiller into the jaw (which doesn’t hurt all that much, and only for a few seconds). He’ll give that a little time to work (it takes maybe 15 or 20 minutes to get REALLY numb), and then go to work. He will remove the decayed material with a drill, then he will use an amalgam to fill the area, and will shape it so that you still bite down properly.
You don’t need to be put to sleep to get a tooth fixed as a rule, although some people opt for that if the work is going to be extensive. If you’re the nervous sort as I am, be sure to go to a dentist who is set up to use nitrous oxide; it’s a small extra charge (and many insurance companies won’t pay for it), but it’s worth EVERY penny in my book! It’s a gas that simply helps you relax, and yet leaves your system VERY rapidly after it’s no longer used – on the order of five minutes or so.