Are You in Need of Sedation Dentistry?
Dental phobia is a real thing. Over 30% of all people avoid a trip to their dentist to escape the anxiety and fear they feel due to dental phobia. This fear makes 30% of the total population susceptible to dental infections and diseases. The solution to dental phobia lies in sedation dentistry, a medical procedure which effectively uses tranquilizers, anti-anxiety medications, and antidepressants, to make patients feel comfortable while on a dentist’s chair. Only professionals are allowed to administer these medications.
What Are the Different Types of Sedation Available Today?
Until a few years, intravenous sedation was the only option available to doctors. However, the advances made in the field of science and biology have today made it possible to sedate patients without the use of needles. Sedation dentistry is also often referred to as sleep dentistry as the medication given induces the effect of sleep in patients. Here are the different types of sedation dentists use to make patients feel relaxed in the chair.
Oral Sedatives
Dentists ask patients to take a regulated dose of oral sedatives, such as Diazepam, an hour before their dental appointment is scheduled to start. An hour is long enough for the drug to take its effect in your system. Oral sedatives make a person feel sleepy and thus, help them control their anxiety. However, oral sedatives are not very powerful and, therefore, leave a patient feeling conscious enough to notice all procedures being done by their dentist. Oral sedatives are most commonly used in the United States and Canada, where dentists often use them to enhance the cooperation level between the patient and the dentist.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is an inhaled gas that often finds usage as a sedative during dental procedures. The effect of the gas does not last for very long, and thus, most patients who use this guess before a dental procedure are able to drive themselves home. However, one must drive only after the effect of the gas has completely worn off.
Intravenous Sedatives
Intravenous sedatives are passed directly into the bloodstream using an intravenous injection. Intravenous sedatives are potent drugs and put patients in a deep state of relaxation. They are known to induce ‘twilight sleep,’ a state in which patients can notice the procedures being done but do not remember those procedures later.
Which Sedation Types Is the Right Choice for You?
Many people assume that intravenous sedation is the best kind of sedation as it makes a person reach twilight sleep. However, this is not always the case. Further, IV sedation is not offered by all dentists, and its use is restricted to only specific procedures. Only a professional expert can genuinely decide which sedation type is the best choice for a patient.
Are You in Need of Sedation Dentistry?
Not everyone needs sedation dentistry. You can benefit from sedation dentistry if:
- You are scared of dentists and dental procedures
- You have had a bad experience with dental procedures in the past, and thus, the idea of going to a dentist makes you anxious
- Your oral nerves are extra sensitive
- You have a small mouth, and therefore, dentists find it hard to reach your back molars during dental procedures
- Local anesthetics, such as Benzocaine and Novocain, do not work for you
Conclusion
Not all dental patients require sedatives. However, if dental procedures make you anxious, talk to your dentist, and see if dental sedation is an option available to you. For more information regarding anything related to your oral health, give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today! We are located in Warren, MI and we can be reached at 586-573-7700!
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