Is fear and anxiety keeping you away from visiting a dentist? Are you depriving yourself of the dental care you deserve? Fret not! Sedation dentistry is the solution to your problems. With the advent of modern dentistry, you can overcome dental fear and reap all the benefits of visiting a dentist.
Sedation dentistry is offered by the dentist in Berkley, CA, and their team to help you calm down and make you comfortable enabling a smooth procedure and result outcome.
Understanding sedation dentistry
Sedation dentistry focuses on relieving stress and pain during dental procedures through sedation. It is a state of being calm or asleep using drugs. This enables you to stay calm and relaxed so that the dentist can perform dental treatments with ease. It is also called conscious sedation or “twilight sleep” since technically you will be awake but in a relaxed state. It creates short-term amnesia (forgetfulness) where you will experience insensitivity to pain without the loss of consciousness.
Applications of Sedation Dentistry
Dentists often recommend sedation dentistry if you suffer from:
- Dental Anxiety
- A fear of visiting the dentist
- Increased gag reflex
- Extreme tooth sensitivity
- A feeling of claustrophobia
- Decreased sensitivity to local anesthesia
- Difficulty controlling movements
- Special needs (behavioral, cognitive, or physical)
Types of Sedation Dentistry
The most common types of sedation dentistry have been discussed below.
Nitrous oxide
- This is commonly known as laughing gas, which is inhaled through a mask.
- It leads to calming effects within 3 to 5 minutes of inhalation.
- Once the procedure is over, your dentist will administer pure oxygen to flush out the nitrous oxide.
Oral conscious sedation
- This method involves oral administration of sedative pills about an hour before the procedure.
- For pediatric use, dentists often use liquid sedation in the form of syrups.
- It may make you feel groggy, and recovery may not be as quick as nitrous oxide sedation.
Intravenous (IV) sedation
- This is the deepest form of sedation where the medication is administered directly into your bloodstream through an IV line.
- The dosage will be adjusted according to the age and the length of the procedure.
- You may fall asleep and have little to no memory of the treatment when you wake up.
Bottom line
Dental fear and anxiety can be distressing, depriving you of the much-deserved dental care. If the thought of visiting a dentist haunts you, discuss them with your dentist and find the best sedation option that works for you.
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