Want to Relax in the Dentists Chair: Sedation Dentistry Can Make It Possible for You

Relaxing in the dentists’ chair will be the last thing on your mind when visiting the dentist near you for any treatment. You could be needing a simple procedure like teeth cleaning that may have tensed your body with fear. However, there is nothing to be ashamed about dental anxiety because many people are affected by this problem.

If you have been avoiding the dentist as an individual affected by coronavirus you will be happy to know that dentists can offer sedation dentistry to relieve you from the dental anxiety and make it possible for you to receive any treatments you need including teeth cleaning. How fearful you are will determine how the sedation is used to relieve you.

What Is This Magical Potion?

The dentist in Torrance, CA is using medication to help patients relax when performing any dental procedure. It is also referred to as sleep dentistry although the description isn’t precise. You will be awake and relaxing with most types of sedation except general anesthesia. The level of sedation used on you could be:

• Minimal — to help you relax but keeping you awake.
• Moderate — also called conscious sedation which may cause you to slur your words when speaking leaving you with little memory of the procedure.
• Deep — leaving you on the edge of consciousness but easy to be awakened.
• General anesthesia — leaving you unconscious completely.

Types of Sedation Adopted in Dentistry

The different types of sedation adopted by dentistry are the following:

Inhaled Minimal Sedation

The dentist for nervous patients will offer you nitrous oxide combined with oxygen through a mask which will be placed on your nose to breathe. You will be relaxed with the gas and the dentist can control the level of sedation you receive. Best of all, the gas wears off fast and is the only form of sedation that allows you to drive yourselves home after the procedure.

Oral Sedation

Depending on the dosage provided for oral sedation dentistry, this method may include minimal to moderate sedation. You will be given a pill to have about an hour before your procedure. It will make you drowsy but leave you awake if the dosage provided is minimal. However, if the dentist feels you need moderate sedation he or she can increase the dosage which may cause you to sleep during the treatment. The ability to wake you up at any time always rests with the dentist performing the procedure.

IV Sedation

If you are undergoing an invasive procedure you may receive IV sedation of the moderate or deep variety that will leave you almost or totally unconscious. You cannot be awakened easily by the dentist and will not be able to drive yourselves back home after the procedure.

Regardless of the type of anesthesia administered by the dentist, you will also need a local anesthetic at the site of the procedure to relieve any pain you may feel and to complete it comfortably.

As can be seen, sedation dentistry is appropriate for you if it is preventing you from visiting the dentist for necessary treatments. It is also helpful for people that have:

• Have low pain thresholds.
• Unable to sit still in the dentists’ chair.
• Suffer from bad gag reflex.
• I need extensive dental work completed.

Children are also the recipients of sedation dentistry especially if terrified of visiting the dental office and uncooperative during the visit. Nitrous oxide is the most common variety of sedation used on children because all dentists can administer it. Some pediatric dentists are also trained to provide oral sedation to children by considering the age of the child and the weight before recommending the dosage.

The Safety of Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry administered by Digital Smiles is safe because it is provided by qualified and experienced dentists. General anesthesia has risks among people who are obese or suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. It is important for you to ensure the dentist offering the sedation is qualified and trained to administer it. You can ask any questions you have in your mind to determine that the sedation is administered by the dentist is within the guidelines issued by the ADA and is within the limits you are capable of handling.

Sedation dentistry only makes it easier for you to have dental procedures without fear by taking away your dental anxiety and helping you to relax in the dentists’ chair. It is a welcome alternative to avoiding dental treatments because you weren’t able to overcome your dental anxiety.