I'm setting my appts at Cleveland Clinic today to go for my consult with Dr. Shen and pre-op with Dr. Vogel for my rectal pain. In the meantime, I have a tooth that's been bothering me on and off for months. I've had it treated three times, included a root canal, and now they want to re-do the root canal. Well, I'm done, I saw an oral surgeon this morning to start the process to have it taken out (luckily I work with dental specialists in my job so I know him well).

My tooth extraction is scheduled for July 12th and he wants me to start taking amoxicillan (500mg) the day before. My first question is, is it ok to take with the Flagyl I'm already taking (250mg 2x2 per day). I mentioned it and he said it was ok to take both, but I wanted to hear from some pouchers and see if you know from experience before I load up on so much antibiotics.

My second question is, they offer sedation for this procedure and I'd really like to take advantage of it so I don't have to hear them cutting and removing the tooth. I'm supposed to not eat from midnight the night before but I'm wondering if there's any chance of losing control of my bowels while sedated. I don't have accidents at night and can sleep for six hours or so, but my most frequent time for bathroom trips is in the morning, and especially if I can't eat anything.

Has anyone had any experience with this or have any advice?

Thank you!
Erin

Erin,

You might consider conscious sedation versus total sedation. You will be way out in la la land and not be bothered by what you see or hear. I had all my wisdom teeth removed this way. Studies show that with dental surgery less side effects occur with conscious sedation vs. total sedation.

Sue

Thanks Sue! I think it is concious sedation because he mentioned that I would be very sleepy. Is it like the sedation for a colonoscopy? They always referred to that as twilight sleep for the scope, but it almost always knocked me out completely (except for the time I woke up and yelled and they had to give me more). I do have to have someone there to drive me home, just like with a scope.

Thanks!
Erin

Regarding the extra antibiotics:

Personally, if I was having a great deal of trouble with intestinal problems that required Flagyl to keep under some control, I'd ask to hold off on the amoxicillin and just take it afterwards if there was any sign of infection. This is just a prophylactic dosing, and it is possible that it could cause more harm than good, if your system is sensitive and easily upset.

Just my two cents.

Jan

I had 4 uper molar implants in one long sitting, and one of the procedures was to graft bone to the four(2 on each side) so I was completly out for about 2 hr's or more not sure of how long but it was long. No problem infact I don't think I went the rest of the day.
I worried about that also even with the other times before hand, like pulling them out,same thing nothing happend. I bet you will be ok.

Hi Erin,
Unless your tooth has very strange roots or anatomy I definitely think it would be excessive for you to be totally sedated. Conscious sedation is much more common for dental procedures, it usually just involves an IV and is similar to sedation used to colonoscopies. I'm not sure how it would affect you in terms of continence. There's also an option for oral sedation which involves benzodiazepines taken orally before your appointment (ie. Xanax, Ativan, Halcion,etc). These drugs tend to relax people, cause drowsiness, and reduce fear. I guess the choice is yours depending on how nervous you are and how difficult the surgeon thinks your extraction will be. I hope all goes well.

Hi Erin, I escorted a good friend to the dentist where he received conscious sedation. It was hilarious, and the best thing is, he doesn't remember a thing! I sat outside listening to them going "Open your mouth...OPEN YOUR MOUTH! Yes, that's right...ok, now keep your head in that position...KEEP IN THIS POSITION!!...Great..." Kim was led out afterwards, zig-zagging like he'd had about 15 tequilas with his mouth full of gauze dental tampons. I had to take him home on the bus (we didn't have a car) and he was soooo sociable! Then all the way up to the sixth floor (no lift) with Kim insisting we should visit all our friends . Don't worry. With a conscious sedation you'll feel no pain, and you'll have control of your bowels

Thomas recently had anesthesia for wisdom teeth removal. He was out for about an hour and had no problem with control. He also had deep anesthesia for his sinus surgery in March. Was out for about four hours and likewise did not have a control problem--and he regularly he has some significant nighttime incontinence.
We chose not to take amoxicillin prophylactically for the wisdom teeth, because all the augmentin he took for the sinuses caused c. diff. Not taking it wasn't a problem.