What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry involves using medication to help patients relax during dental treatment. This can help patients tolerate the discomfort of dental treatment. Sedation can also help patients who suffer from dental anxiety or dental phobia. During sedation dentistry, patients are usually awake and can respond to questions and instructions.
Sedation dentistry is a great choice for people who experience dental anxiety or fear. This form of dentistry can help you relax through your entire treatment.
What causes Dental Fear?
Some people simply experience anxiety at the dentist’s office. This usually stems from a previous traumatic experience, which may have involved pain, embarrassment, or a sense of helplessness.
Other patients may feel that fear stems from a sense of loss of control.
Sedation Dentistry and Dental Anxiety
You can be sedated during most types of dental procedures. This ranges from simple teeth cleaning to implant surgery. Mild sedatives work well for patients who experience mild anxiety or nervousness. Moderate sedatives may be used if a patient has moderate to severe anxiety. Intravenous sedation is the most potent option and may be used to completely eliminate a patient’s sense of pain.
What are the advantages of sedation dentistry?
Patients who undergo dental sedation often experience the following:
- Increased comfort
- Ease of treatment
- Reduced anxiety
- Complete cooperation from the patient
- Decreased memory of the procedure
- Longer appointment times
- Minimal recovery time
Oral sedation techniques
Sedation dentistry encompasses several different techniques and medications designed to reduce patient anxiety during dental treatment.
- Oral Sedation (Pills)
Oral sedation involves taking a prescription sedative drug about an hour before your appointment. By the time you arrive at our office, you’ll already be in a deeply relaxed state. The effects of oral sedation can last for up to six hours, so you’ll need a friend or family member to bring you to and from your dental appointment.
- Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas or happy gas. It is breathed in through a small mask that fits over the patient’s mouth. Nitrous oxide is often used to calm patients who are nervous about their dental appointment. It also eases discomfort caused by an invasive dental procedure.
- IV sedation
IV sedation dentistry allows patients to undergo longer and more complex dental treatment without causing undue stress or discomfort. IV sedation is often recommended for patients with a strong gag reflex or for patients who have anxiety about going to the dentist. Also, patients who have extensive dental needs, such as multiple extractions or preparation for a crown or bridge, often benefit from IV sedation.
- General AnesthesiaÂ
Before any dental procedure, your dentist will talk to you about your anesthesia options and recommend the best one for your unique situation. General anesthesia is the most common type of deep sedation dentistry. General anesthesia is the use of general anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist. General anesthesia is the deepest form of sedation dentistry. During general anesthesia, you will be completely asleep and will not remember the procedure.
To know more about sedation dentistry options, schedule a consultation with Kids & Adult Dental Care. Visit our offices in Franklin and Indianapolis or call at (317)560-5556 & (317)991-4725 and schedule an appointment.
