Several people fear dental work. They are concerned about the pain they might suffer as well as their weakness and likely discomfort. Sedation dentistry can certainly assist patients to feel calmer during dental work, but is dental sedation the right choice for you?
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
With sedation, the patient is given a drug before or during the dental work. The drug given to the patient is general anesthesia which makes the patient completely unconscious. The other types will loosen you up, but won’t knock you out completely.
The most common types of sedation dentistry include the following:
- Nitrous oxide: this gas wears off fast and it’s given during the procedure.
- Oral sedatives: Oral sedatives, including diazepam, are administered an hour before the work.
- Intravenous sedatives: Intravenous, or IV, sedatives completely knock you out throughout the dental work. The medication can also put you to sleep. This method uses general anesthesia but comes with bigger side effects than other methods.
How Does Sedation Dentistry Work?
The procedure relies on the form of sedation your dentist uses. If you’re administered an oral sedative, for instance, your dentist will prescribe the required drug and provide you guidance on how to use it. You will begin feeling drowsy when the medication kicks in.
However, in the case of nitrous oxide, your doctor will administer the sedative before, during, and after the work. However, in the case of IV sedation, advanced preparation is demanded.
Who Needs Sedation Dentistry?
Patients who choose sedation dentistry often have various justifications for their involvement, such as the following:
- Phobia associated with dental work
- Post-trauma experience with dental work in the past
- Extremely sensitive oral nerves
- Smallmouth that becomes irritating during dental work
- Resistance to local anesthetic
- Anxiety and stress disorder
If you find yourself in any of those health issues, deem it necessary to know about sedation dentistry from your doctor. Dental sedation can assist patients to overcome several kinds of dental work, such as root canals, tooth extractions, dental implantation, and more.
Will You Benefit From Sedation Dentistry?
Before you agree on dental sedation, assess the method you choose and your common reaction to dental work. For instance, if you fear needles, then, sedations that involve needles might increase your level of anxiety more than the dental work. Furthermore, if you want to be alert due to fear of being vulnerable in the dental chair, local anesthesia will be best for you.
But, if you’re postponing dental work due to the pain it rendered, then you should stick to sleep dentistry. When you ignore dental issues, the issue will become more complicated which might result in more thorough dental work.
If you have a dental appointment and you’re worried about the procedure, inquire about dental sedation from your doctor. You should visit a doctor that practices this method so you can feel comfortable in the dental chair. After the procedure, there will be no cost to worry about dental appointments in the future.
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