Visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be a stressful or scary experience. Dental sedation provides a way for patients to get the oral health care they need without the upsetting side effects that some people encounter with dental visits. Sedation can eliminate anxiety and pain so that patients may comfortably receive treatment.
A licensed dentist is able to administer dental sedation as needed to patients. It involves using sedative medications to create a relaxed, painless, and carefree experience for the patient. The dentist can perform any necessary treatments and procedures, while the patient remains comfortable in the dental chair. Also, more procedures can be performed in one visit since the patient is cooperative while under sedation.
Examples of issues that patients have that can benefit from dental sedation include:
- Fear of dental visits
- History of previous upsetting dental experiences
- Low pain tolerance
- Extremely sensitive teeth or gums
- Severe gag reflex
- Medical conditions that affect muscle control, like Parkinson’s Disease or Cerebral Palsy
- Desire to undergo multiple procedures in one sitting
There are a variety of different levels of sedation that may be used in dentistry. Minimal sedation means that you are awake but relaxed, while moderate sedation can cause you to slur your words and not remember the procedure. Deep sedation leaves you on the edge of being conscious, but still able to be awakened. General anesthesia is the deepest level, causing complete unconsciousness. The degree of sedation is dependent upon the patient’s needs and the type of dental work being performed.
Sedation may be administered in several methods. Oral sedation involves swallowing a pill by mouth, while inhalation sedation involves breathing nitrous oxide combined with oxygen through a mask over the nose. IV sedation is given intravenously through an injection. Each of this types of sedation create varying levels of consciousness, and have their own advantages or drawbacks that you can discuss with your dentist.
No matter what level or method of dental sedation you choose, it is likely that it will change your experience of visiting the dentist and undergoing treatment.
