What is sedation dentistry?
Are you scared of the Dentist? You are not the only one! Over one hundred million Americans have a fear of going to the dentist. One in seven people have phobias about visiting the dentist. Sedation dentistry takes the anxiety out of having dental work done. Sedation may be a safe and effective technique that helps patients be utterly relaxed and comfortable throughout their dental appointments. For some people, a simple visit to the dentist brings on panic attacks so severe that even twice yearly checkups and cleanings are virtually impossible. If you are among these people, sedation dentistry can help you overcome your fear and get the regular dental care you need.
Sedation dentistry uses a mild oral sedative or nitrous oxide to create a floaty, dream like state so that you can go through your dental appointment without any anxiety or discomfort at all. Using sedation dentistry, dental problems that have been neglected due to your fear can be easily dealt with. If you have multiple issues, such as several cavities or teeth that must be extracted, they often can all be treated in a single session, thus saving you additional, stressful trips to the dentist.
If you are terrified of visiting a dentist, or if you have trouble with pain during dental visits, you may want to consider sedation dentistry. This type of dentistry is performed on people for a variety of reasons. They are given different medication that can promote mild to deep relaxation and sleepiness during a dental visit.
Some people take a light tranquilizer like a benzodiazepine before a dentist visit, which is the mildest form of sedation dentistry. This may help calm nerves and make people more comfortable seeing a dentist. Others may need other medications that make them less conscious of any dental work being performed.
Once you have experienced sedation dentistry, you will probably never be afraid to go to the dentist again. You will be sedated just enough to be unaware of the treatment, as if you were relaxing. You will wake up refreshed, with little or no memory of what was accomplished. Because you are completely comfortable, frequently having years of dental treatments done in one or two visits.
Sedation dentistry can mean any type of sedative given by pill, elixir, intravenous, inhaled or otherwise that relaxes patients for dental procedures. Many dentists advertising on the radio or internet provide sedation with a pill called triazolam combined with nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. This can relax patients and may reduce their memory of dental procedures. More advanced dentists, called dentist anesthesiologists, are able to use the same pill, but offer other methods of sedation in addition to just a pill. Triazolam may be all many patients need for relaxation; however more apprehensive people typically require something more. A qualified dentist anesthesiologist can use intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. The use of the intravenous allows a dentist to carefully adjust the sedation to be just right for each individual, and helps insure a more comfortable dental experience. A dentist anesthesiologist has at least one full year of formal residency training solely devoted to anesthesiology.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Sedation dentistry is safe and effective when administered by a trained professional. Conscious sedation often makes your dental visit easier both for you and your dentist. While sedated, dental problems can be corrected that might have been present for many years. This includes crowns, fillings, root canals, removal of wisdom teeth, treatment for gum disease and cosmetic dental procedures. Appointments can be as short as an hour or two or can extend to several hours, whatever is necessary to meet your individual treatment needs. Some patients have found it to be easier and more convenient to accomplish multiple dental procedures during one dental visit using conscious sedation.
There has never been a documented report of a serious adverse incident due to the use of oral conscious sedation in adults, according to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation. The reason is that dentists who offer conscious sedation must complete a high level of training and have plenty of experience with it. One reason for this outstanding record is that dentists monitor patients vital signs. The monitor measures blood pressure every five minutes and continuously measures pulse rate and blood oxygen before, during, and after a sedation procedure. All patients must also be accompanied by a companion to and from the dental office.
Sedation dentistry is as safe as taking a sleeping pill once in a while. The dosages used in these treatments are far below the recommended dosages of the medication. Some patients are well sedated with just the first pill, others may require additional anesthesia. Sedation dentistry dramatically reduces the bodys ability to become tense or recognize painful sensation. Therefore, the patient is free to just relax and enjoy the visit.
Is Sedation Dentistry Right for Me?
Sedation dentistry has helped millions of people just like you experience visits to the dentist while remaining relaxed, accomplish multiple treatments in a single visit, and get the care they need in the most comfortable way possible. The medications used for sedation dentistry have an amnesic effect, so you will emerge from treatment with little or no memory of the smells, sounds, or sights of your visit. With sedation dentistry, you will be surprised at how much our dentists can accomplish in a single visit while you remain relaxed and comfortable.
There are different levels of sedation, even with oral medications. With anxiolysis, the lightest level of sedation, you usually take a single dose on the day of your appointment. To attain a longer and more comfortable experience you may opt for oral conscious sedation dentistry where unique protocols will be chosen for your unique needs and medical history.
Once you are completely relaxed and comfortable, your sedation dentist will be able to work quickly and efficiently to perform larger amounts of dentistry in fewer visits. And since sedation medications have an amnesic effect, you will have very little, if any, memory of the sights, smells or sounds of your visit, making your visit feel short and sweet.
About This Article
Prior Lake Dentist, is a family friendly dentist who is concerned about your dental health.
