We hear a lot about sedation dentistry nowadays, about how it is the best solution to eliminate stress, fear and pain from the dental intervention, making dental treatment accessible even for those suffering from dentist phobia, but many people still wonder what is sedation dentistry, in fact? Here are a few details of this new and ingenious method to make dental treatments more pleasant.
Why Has Sedation Dentistry Been Invented?
Many people neglect their dental appointments not because of financial difficulties, but because they are terrified of dentists. Their fear might be caused by a traumatic experience suffered in the past or by fear from the sound of the equipment used during dental procedures, but whatever the origins of the fear, the emotion is so overpowering that it prevents them from even scheduling a dental appointment.
In sedation dentistry, the intervention is performed on patients who are sedated to a certain extent, which makes the process bearable for the patient and more efficient for the dentist, who can work undisturbed and can accomplish more within a shorter amount of time.
What is Sedation Dentistry in Practice?
If you turn to a Lakewood dental office who performs sedation dentistry, your doctor will probably want to examine your teeth first (without doing any treatment yet, of course) to get a general idea about the condition of your teeth. The following step is the discussion of the necessary treatments and the intensity of the sedation.
You can choose from many different levels of sedation:
- Minimal sedation is usually induced with the help of nitrous oxide, a substance known as laughing gas or by administering pills to induces a state of conscious relaxation and slight dizziness;
- Moderate sedation is usually achieved with oral drugs or with sedative drugs administered via an IV line. This level of sedation may cause mild speaking difficulties and will completely erase any memory of the treatment;
- Deep sedation will take you to the edge of unconsciousness, but will allow the doctor to wake you up easily when the treatment session is over;
- General anaesthesia works the same way as the anaesthesia in the case of any major surgery and is recommended for patients whose teeth are in very bad condition and want to get them all treated as quickly as possible.
Whatever level of sedation you choose, the process starts with the administration of a local anaesthetic in the place where the doctor will work.
The Most Important Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
Comfort and efficiency are the two most important benefits of undergoing dental treatments under sedation. The process is beneficial for the patients because they do not experience fear and discomfort, allowing them not only to undergo complex interventions that they would otherwise reject, but also to use the process as exposure therapy to cure them of their dentist phobia. The method is also beneficial for dentists because it allows them to focus on their work more and to work faster, doing treatments that would otherwise require multiple appointment in one go.
If you still have questions about the process, find a dentist who offers this type of treatment and make an appointment – he or she will be able to provide an even more detailed answer to the question “what is sedation dentistry?”