Dr. Hall,
I’m supposed to be going in for dental implant surgery later this month. I have not yet explained to ClearChoice, which is where I’m getting my surgery, that I am on methadone. Do I need to tell them? I have a feeling if I do that they’re not going to continue through with my surgery. They got really freaked out when I mentioned that I used to be on Suboxone. So I can only guess that they’re going to be really freaked out when I tell them that I’m currently on methadone. Will you please get back to me and let me know the answer to this question because I’m really stressed out about it. I feel as if I don’t want to tell them but I’m afraid not to tell him because I don’t want to die during dental implant surgery you know.
Thank you,
Mike from Valley, Nebraska
(See Dr. Hall’s answer below.)
We thank our advertisers who help fund this site.
Mike,
Yes, you absolutely need to tell them your complete drug history, and being on methadone is an especially important piece of information. Your doses of sedative will need to be adjusted and maybe the mix of drugs customized in order for your sedation to be comfortable and safe.
Take their initial reaction to your situation as a red flag. My impression is that ClearChoice, to maximize their profits, have standard procedures from which they don’t like to deviate. I have received emails from patients complaining about ClearChoice not willing to customize their pain control procedures for special circumstances.
An example: A couple of years ago, I received an email from a patient complaining that he now has nightmares about his ClearChoice experience. He had shared information with them that suggested that he would likely require a stronger dose of sedative. He ended up waking up in the middle of the procedure and, rather than give him an additional dose, they just physically restrained him. He ended up with his teeth out of place, I’m guessing because it was difficult for them to work on him while he was writhing in pain. Their reaction to you reminds me of his experience.
The most common serious medical emergencies that occur during dental procedures come from stress: heart attack, stroke, seizures. Being under-sedated is thus a serious risk, and you need a surgeon who cares enough about you to correctly manage your sedation.
My advice would be to get a second opinion from another qualified dentist who does dental implant surgery. Private practices tend to be much more patient-friendly and responsive to special needs than corporate dental practices like ClearChoice.
– Dr. Hall
Do you have a comment or anything else to add? We’d love to hear from you. Enter your comment below. Or click here to ask Dr. Hall a question.
About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
Leave a Reply