Dental Sedation: The Pros and Cons
Going to the dentist is a common fear that many share. None-the-less, keeping up with regular dental visits is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Studies have shown that besides causing major oral health issues, skipping regular dental checkups can cause serious health problems.
You no longer have to let fear and anxiety be the reason for your missed dental checkups. Thanks to sedation dentistry, there is now a solution for people with fear of going to the dentist.
Let us help put you at ease by explaining what sedation dentistry is and answering some questions you may have regarding sedation dentistry.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
The use of medications to help patients relax during dental procedures. Dentists use a few different methods of sedation: inhaled sedation, oral sedation, and IV sedation.
Inhaled sedation method (otherwise known as laughing gas) uses nitrous oxide to help patients relax. While awake, the patients inhale the gas via a mask, which calms the patient’s fears, relaxes them and reduces pain.
Oral sedation is the administration of calming drugs (sedatives) to the patient, by mouth. You are dispensed the drugs to take at home, before the procedure.
IV sedation: Intravenous (IV) sedation is a type of anesthesia (drugs that relax a patient and stop them from feeling pain) given through a tube placed in a vein. This is the type of sedation our practice offers and is often administered by an anesthesiologist.
Benefits of sedation dentistry
Sedation dentistry helps put the patient in a relaxed state; the patient does not think about their fear of the dentist and allows them to receive the care that they need, pain-free.
The sedatives help you feel relaxed while in the dental chair:
Sedation is also a pain reducer; any fear of pain will be erased during dental procedures.
The dental procedures will take less time because the patient is relaxed.
If you get panic attacks or anxiety, sedatives can also help in reducing these effects during dental treatment.
If the procedure is lengthy, sedatives will make you feel more comfortable throughout the procedure.
Sedation Dentistry: What to expect
Before the sedation appointment, you will need to complete a pre-anesthetic phone consult with the anesthesiologist. Accordingly, it’s important that your doctors have a record of your health history and a list of any allergies you may have.
If you had anesthesia previously and experienced any adverse effects, you should mention that to your anesthesiologist. If it’s your first-time undergoing sedation, don’t be afraid to express your concerns.
Most patients wake up quickly once the procedure is over and the medications are stopped. Common side effects include headache, nausea, and drowsiness. Everyone has a different tolerance to medications, so the anesthesiologist will determine the amount of sedative to give to each of his patients.
Contradiction with other medications. Be sure to notify your doctor if you are taking any medications. It is recommended to provide your doctor with a list of any medications you are taking to avoid any complications.
Other health conditions. Provide your anesthesiologist with a complete health history. He will determine if sedation dentistry is the right option for you and create a customized anesthetic plan to better suit your needs.
Final Thoughts
Sedation dentistry can help reduce your dental anxiety. Whether it is a simple cleaning or major dental surgery, we provide dental sedation services to help alleviate your fears of the dentist. You can contact us today or you can visit our website for further details about sedation dentistry.