Drugs before dental work

[Argus12]

It seems that I have a severe case of Gingivitis which will soon turn into Periodontitis, if I do nothing about it.  I've already have seen the dentist as the are recommending me a scaling and root planing, which is as I understand it requires numbing half of the face on one side than I come back and get the other side done.  The problem I have with this is the fact that I will need to get 5+ shots in order to get my face numb.  Now I do have a problem with needles, but I can handle a shot, but 5!!!  Which comes to my question, I have a stash of Vicodin from previous dental work I received a few weeks ago.  I was thinking of taking some of those before heading over to the dentist to get my work done.  I am hoping it will make it so I won't feel most of the pain and help with any problems I get for keeping my mouth open for an hour and a half.

I just wanted to know if other people have tried this and see if it helped them deal with any anxiety of the pain associated with recieving injections.

[Argus12]

Well I had the work done this morning.  It was lets say unnerving.  The dentist said I wouldn't feel much pain, which I really didn't, but I did feel very unconfortable.  The first three injections weren't that bad in my upper jaw, the fourth on the other hand, well lets just say I have never felt anything like that before.  He basically walked me through what he was doing and what I would be feeling.  He said this one was going to have to go deep (nerve blocking?).  It went deep, and really stung when I got injected.  Then the last 2 again weren't that bad.  So, after this ordeal the procedure itself was fine and I didn't mind it at all.  After the numbness wore off, I have this feeling that the needle is still in my lower jaw when he went deep and sometimes I feel a tingling sensation in there like I was getting injected.  And when I think about it my stomach just starts to ache and my heart starts racing.

The worst part about this is I have to do it again.  I've talked to a few people about it, and they never went back to get the other half done, and now I can see why.  Not knowing what was going to happen I think helped me do it this time, but now that I know what to expect is working against me.  I think I am going to call the dentist tomorrow and just let him know whats been going on.  Maybe there is something that can be done to take my mind off the injections, hopefully, because I don't know if I can go back.

[chance's mom]

Without a doubt get the root planing down.It is extremly benefitical.I would not necessarily say you will have 5 injections.We often do root planing in quardrants our one half of the mouth.The upper(maxillary)will be a much easier injection.You may need a couple up there.Then one lower.
Ask your office if they have a product called oraqix(or-a-kicks).It is administered by trailing along the gum area with a blunt tip dispenser.I have seen it work great on gums without any need for other forms of numbing.It is "like" baby numbing gel on steriods,make sense?
Sometimes pt's can do the procedure without benefit of numbing at all.Some, not all.Your comfort is of uppermost importance.IExplain your fear of the injection,and see what they can suggest.If you must have numbing and there is no oraqix ask if they will place topical(gel) before for a longer amount of time to make it comfortable.I would suggest also,taking a walkman or IPOD to listen to take your mind off procedure.By the way this is not a surgical procedure, just a deeper cleaning below the gum line where buildup is.
Hope it goes easily and painlessly for you.