questions about flap surgery & gum grafts - Dental Health Message Board

honeyb65 · 06-15-2005, 04:14 PM

I am having osseous syrgery and bone grafting on 6/20. I am terrified of the procedure. I have been trying to psych myself up that it's for the best if I want to keep my teeth. I not sleeping well. My periodontist does not want to give me a sedative before the procedure. He says it's all in my mind and if I dont make myself relax my mind will fight it and I could have bad results. I also asked what he would be giving me for pain afterwards and he said I could buy over the counter tylenol. I dont think so! I'm having 2 quads done on the same day. He's trying to convince me that I will feel no pain during or after. I suffer from post traumatic stress and take xanax every so often anyway so he isnt really helping matters. Am I over reacting and making a big deal out of nothing? Is it painful? any advise would be appreciated.

Cinemagic · 06-15-2005, 05:15 PM

If you are really having osseous surgery and bone grafting, I doubt that you'll be comfortable post-operatively with OTC Tylenol. As far as sedation, first, you probably don't need it if you can get past the initial numbing. After you're numb, there's nothing you're going to feel. As for being anxious during the procedure, unless you jump around a lot causing the dentist to cut where he doesn't want to, it's not going to alter the outcome. I agree that you'll not have any pain during. While everyone's pain threshold is different, if it were me, I'd insist on something stronger for post-op pain.

honeyb65 · 06-15-2005, 05:39 PM

cinemagic, Thank you for your response. I went on line to different chat rooms and no one could help and I couldnt find anyone that has ever had it done. Most of them made fun of my situation. Trough my tears I managed to find this wonderful website. I wont jump around in the chair. That wont be a problem. Is this procedure painful afterwards? I would like to know the truth without the sugar coating. Have you had this done? Dr. says I need all four quads done, 2 at a time and 5 maybe more bone grafts. I'm worried about what my gums will look like afterwards too. I already have spaces from the damage and would hate for them to become worse. Any advise?

wyod501 · 06-15-2005, 05:55 PM

Find another doc to do the surgery. This guy doesn't care what you feel like afterward. If you are this anxious, then get a doctor that will put you at ease, give you sedation, and provide appropriate pain management.

scanner60 · 06-15-2005, 06:38 PM

Honeyb,
I had gum flap surgery last Friday with just novacaine, no sedation. I did not feel a thing during the procedure. My peridontist did write me a script for pain pills, but I had some leftover from an extraction that I had done a month ago. I took one after the novacaine wore off. Later that evening, I took some acetaminophen which took care of the discomfort, which was slight. Since Friday, I have only taken the acetaminohen a couple of times. Pain since the procedure has been slight to none. I go back Monday to have the stitches removed and then need to schedule a second procedure. All-in-all, not as bad as extractions and worth saving the teeth. I was able to listen to my MP3 player during the procedure which helped to distract and relax me.