Buffy

I am going to be having 4 wisdom teeth removed, a deep cleaning, and some cavity fillings (a lot of work needs to be done because I have been so scared of going to the dentist, I have not seen one in 12 years!) I am going to be under I.V. sedation. My dentist explained that I will be not be completely knocked out, but be under a light sedation. Enough sedation to not remember the procedure, but will be conscious enough to be able to respond to him. I can't grasp that concept...if I am only semi-conscious, won't I still be able to feel pain? He prescribed me Valium to take the night before and the day of my surgery to ease my anxiety, and the usual Vicodin, Motrin, and antibiotics for after. I am still way panicked about the procedure, the pain I could feel with the IV needle, the possibility of pain during the procedure while I'm "under," the pain following the procedure during the healing process. Just generally worried about pain! Any advice, personal experience, information would be appreciated.

I think I might have periodontal disease, and I'm freaking out. I have an extreme phobia of the dentist, and haven't been in about 12 years! I assume I'll have to get a deep cleaning/scaling/planing done, and I am terrified. I have been considering sedation dentistry, the asleep kind of sedation (iv), not the conscious sedation (laughing gas), although I admit I'm a little weary of being completely knocked out. Anyone have any experience with any of this?