Are you experiencing some anxiety going to the dentist? Well, you have to fear no more. Sedation dentistry allows oral health care providers to perform painless and comfortable dental operations.
Dental anxiety, or dental fear, is estimated to affect approximately 36% of the population, with a further 12% suffering from extreme dental fear. Usually, it results from past painful or bad experiences at the dentist.
If you keep on making excuses not to visit the dentist, your dental health will suffer. Sedation is one way to have a better and much more pleasant experience at the dentist.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry uses medication to relieve dental anxiety by putting the patient at ease and making them feel relaxed during their dental treatment.
Laughing Gas
Nitrous oxide, more typically known as laughing gas, is what dentists use to help their patients during any dental procedure. You will be conscious while taking it. It greatly relaxes patients during dental procedures.
When patients receive the laughing gas, dentists hand out a nose apparatus to breathe the gas. The effects are very gentle and fast. Commonly, you may feel the impact as early as 30 seconds.
Patients who received laughing gas as their sedative are often allowed to drive their way home after a procedure.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation, also known as conscious sedation, involves patients taking a prescribed dose of sedative before their dental procedure. The dosage you take varies based on a variety of factors.
Some patients need to take one pill a night before and an hour before their dental procedure, depending on the dentist’s requirements. Oral sedation leaves you awake throughout the process.
Although you may be awake, there’s no need to worry because you will also feel relaxed. Depending on the patient’s case, some may be hooked up to equipment that monitors heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. Again, it depends on factors that only dentists can determine.
This type of sedation is for patients who have higher levels of anxiety. It will leave you feeling tired and sleepy after.
IV Sedation
This type of sedation has a few variations. Twilight IV sedation makes patients feel sleepy and makes them unaware of what’s happening during the procedure. Although it may sound like you’re unconscious, you are not.
Whenever the dentist needs to make you alert of your surroundings, they can do so. Aside from twilight IV sedation, the other option is general anesthesia. General anesthesia is rarely used.
Such a sedative is only used for patients who need very complex oral surgery or for patients who don’t seem to feel the effect of additional sedation.
With general anesthesia, patients are unconscious. Commonly, this type of sedation only happens in a hospital or a very specialized clinic, with an anesthesiologist administering the sedative and monitoring your vital signs.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
Dental Anxiety Relief
Some people don’t follow their appointments and avoid going to the dentist simply because of fear. Luckily, it can be avoided now. Dentists can now help patients overcome their dental anxieties.
Dental anxiety relief is one of the most positive benefits of sedation dentistry. Patients may now feel relaxed while the dental procedure is going on.
Dental procedures are now performed with ease. Some dental surgeries are complicated and extremely invasive. Which, in return, causes stress to the patient and discomfort.
Sedation dentistry comes in handy during such situations. How? It relaxes the muscles and results in fewer chances of gagging, which might make things much more difficult for both you and the dentist.
Thus, it helps the dentists perform dental surgery with lesser disruptions. So, if you are terrified of experiencing pain from dental procedures, sedation dentistry is the best option.
Pain-Free Experience
Sedation dentistry is very popular for giving pain-free dental procedures. Its popularity began when major dental surgery was introduced.
Most people are scared of invasive dental surgery or even simple procedures, like tooth extractions. With sedation dentistry, patients will not feel any pain during any dental procedure.
Do I Need Sedation Dentistry?
Talk to your dentist about your fears and concerns before any dental procedure. Your dentist may recommend some type of sedation, depending on your case. While you can simply have the area numbed, you are 100 percent aware of what’s happening around you, which can leave you scared, nervous, and anxious. Why go through all that when you can reap the benefits of sedation?
Book an appointment for a painless and easy dental procedure with us. At Tryon Family Dentistry, we will care for your dental needs. Call us today!
