I have always hated going to the dentist and getting fillings, as well as being claustraphobic(sp?) I want to get all my amalgams removed, but I have a TON of them. Does anyone know if one can be put under like the do with root canals?

-Kathleen

Yes you can but it costs a lot more and it's often hard enough to find a dentist properly trained in safe removal, much less one that will work with anesthesiologist.

Let us know how it goes.

I see this is an old old post, but thought that maybe someone out there still might wanna know an answer.
I just had all 8 of my amalgam fillings removed October 13th and opted to be not conscious of the whole thing. My dentist began by starting an IV, then started with the gas first which knocked me silly and then he added valium to "take me away from it all" I don't remember him numbing my mouth, but he did. I don't remember any of the procedure actually.
What he charged was 50.00 an hour extra for every hour he had me under. I'm thinking I was out for 3 hours.
I prepaid my part before the work which was 1,200.00 and the rest submitted to insurance which was like 1,500.00
I may be looking at a bill from the dentist if the insurance doesn't cover it all. From the looks of it, it might be another 600.00 out of my pocket. The money doesn't bother me any because it's money for a good cause...ME! :-)

Well, I had an injection & didn't feel a thing but I was conscious all the time... Only had 1 amalgam removed at a time.. which I think is better than having all at once..

I had previously worked on my fear of dentists with EFT, TAT & such, & building myself up with some positive statements etc (like 'He knows what he's doing', 'He's an expert' etc)

Actually I think it's better if you're conscious, cause you can see what he's doing.. I was shocked to see him not use a dental dam!! (I was seeing a 'normal' dentist, not a natural/mercury-aware one, though! But he was said to be 'very good' so actually I was quite shocked!!)
But at least I asked for water to rinse & spit it out!!

If I were 'put out' I would want the whole thing to be recorded on camera &/or someone trustworthy watching all the time.. & of course things well-discussed in advance, so there would be no surprises.. (I really wish I were smarter about this & discussed it more in advance!)