Four Facts About Sedation Dentistry You Need to Know
Most adults (about 30 percent) actively avoid dental clinics because of fear. Some only visit a dentist if there is an emergency, otherwise they stay away. Not only is this against the standard rule of getting a routine dental checkup every six months, but it is also detrimental to your oral health. You miss out on a lot of benefits such deep dental cleaning and oral cancer screening.
If you are among the millions of Americans who prefer to live with dental pain, we have a solution for you—sedation dentistry. Dental sedation is not a new concept and has been used for years to relax patients and make the dental procedures bearable. In this post, we list four facts about dental sedation you need to know.
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- Dental Sedation Does Not Cause Unconsciousness
Although it is referred to as sleep dentistry, dental sedation does not cause you to sleep. We have four different options and only one induces unconsciousness.
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- Nitrous Oxide
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Nitrous oxide or laughing gas is commonly used because it takes effect immediately and wears off just as fast. The dentist administers the nitrous oxide a few minutes before the procedure begins.
Although it wears off almost immediately after its disconnected, the dentist will still use oxygen to lower the effects of the nitrous gas. The upside of using the laughing gas is that you will be able to resume normal activities
Interestingly, nitrous oxide is called the laughing gas because you get the ‘feel good’ sensation as the gas takes effect.
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- Oral sedation
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Oral sedation is bit different because it involves the use of a pill. The dentist administers the pill a few hours before the procedure. Sometimes, the dentist may give you the tablet the night before to relax you. It is easy to administer the drug, but on the downside it takes time for the pill to take effect. People metabolize medication differently and therefore it may be hard to adjust the dosage. Plus, it takes time to wear off and you can’t resume activities immediately.
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- Intravenous sedation
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The IV sedation is given intravenously. The laughing gas and oral sedation can be given by general dentists. However, for IV sedation, you need dental specialist licensed to administer sedation.
Intravenous sedation is ideal for moderate to severe dental procedures. You will be awake during the procedure, but not be able to recollect the process.
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- General sedation
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It is also called deep or sleep sedation because it causes you to sleep. General sedation is used on severe dental procedures or dental phobia. It does not wear off as quickly and the dentist will use medication to reduce the effects.
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- Dental Phobia is Not the Only Reason for Sedation
Sedation dentistry is great for people with severe dental phobia. However, our sedation dentist can recommend it if:
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- You have an overactive gad reflex
- The dental procedures to be performed are invasive and extensive dental treatments
- Low pain threshold
- Dental Sedation is Safe, Even for Children
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Dental sedation is safe and effective because it is given by trained and licensed dentists. Furthermore, our dentist will monitor the dosage to ensure it is within the accepted limits.
Children can also be sedated. But, mostly we use the laughing gas to keep them calm and still during the dental procedure. Oral sedation can be used, but the dosage is calculated according to the child’s age.
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- Sedation Dentistry is Effective, But Not Ideal for Some People
Several health conditions may be an obstacle to you getting dental sedation. If you have diabetes, hypertension, heart problems or respiratory diseases, you need your doctor’s clearance first.
Even with the use of sedation dentistry, the dentist will still give anesthesia to numb the gums.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to dread going to the dentist for treatment or routine dental checkup. With dental sedation, the trip to the dental clinic can be easy and relaxed. Visit Palm Coast Family Dentistry in Palm Coast, FL if you have any questions about dental sedation.