How Can Sedation Dentistry Help You During Your Dental Procedures?
Anxiety over a dental procedure is understandable since the oral tissues are soft and sensitive. When you have dental health issues like gum disease, damaged teeth, and tooth decay, your oral tissues are likely to be predisposed to invasive procedures. Repairing the delicate tissues compels our sedation dentist in Smithfield to find ideal options for alleviating pain.
Your nerves and other dental connective tissues are likely to be exposed, and you’ll likely bleed during such procedures, and sedation is crucial. Additionally, local anesthesia numbs the affected area, and you’ll probably feel discomfort or irritation as the anesthetic takes effect. Still, your pain will be minimal during the rest of the procedure.
What’s Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry involves using sedatives before an extensive dental procedure to make you feel relaxed and free from pain. Your sedation dentist in Smithfield incorporates sedatives to perform certain dental procedures like tooth extraction safely. You may have different experiences after sedation, including unconsciousness, among others.
Types of Sedation in Dentistry
Below are the main types of sedation in dentistry:
Oral Sedation
At Utah dentistry, our specialists issue you with a pill that renders you unconscious. The effects of the sedative last for the entire dental procedure, and your dentist determines the right dosage for you. After the process, the sedation wears off, but in some instances, you might be induced another drug to offset the effects of the sedative.
IV Sedation
It involves an injection on your hand or palm, and the drug gets into your bloodstream. You feel relaxed during the entire dental procedure and may not necessarily be unconscious. However, you will not feel pain during the invasive procedure.
laughing Gas Sedation
It’s administered through a facemask, and you inhale the gas for you to ease your pain or anxiety. Your specialist may combine this option with local anesthesia to relieve pain during your procedure.
Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia
You are prescribed medication that causes you to become partially or fully unconscious during your procedure. However, you can remain asleep under general anesthesia until the effects wear off or are reversed by another medication.
Despite the sedation option utilized during your dental procedure, the main objective of sedation is to alleviate your pain. In addition, a local anesthetic numbs the affected area and makes you feel relaxed.
Is Sedation Dentistry Suitable for You?
Sedation is ideal for you if you face anxiety over a dental procedure or appointment. Additionally, you may be a suitable candidate for sedation if you:
- Have a bad gag reflex
- Can’t manage to overcome the fear of a dentist’s in-office treatment
- Have hypersensitive teeth
- Require an extensive dental treatment
- have a low pain threshold
Your child often undergoes sedation if they are terrified of dental visits. Laughing gas sedation is preferable for your child since it’s safe in recommended dose based on the child’s weight and age.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
It’s imperative to undergo sedation dentistry from an experienced specialist to avoid risks. However, obstructive sleep apnea and obesity may hinder you from being sedated before your dental procedure. In addition, anesthesia may lead to complications, and you need to choose an experienced practitioner for sedation before your procedure. For you to be safe under sedation dentistry, you need to consult your dentist to ensure the following are adhered to:
- Evaluation of your medical history to check if you are suitable for sedation
- Enquire about the sedative dose based on your health status and age
- Check on the effects of the sedatives and follow all the guidelines issued by our specialists at Utah dentistry closely
- Close monitoring of your vital signs during sedation and throughout your dental procedure. Artificial ventilation may be needed and medication to reverse sedative effects.
If you are to undergo an extensive procedure soon, it’s important to discuss it with your dentist sedation. You must speak with your dentist about which type of sedation you will need for your next dental procedure. At Webber Comprehensive Dentistry, our specialist determines the ideal type of sedation for you based on your medical history.
You will likely be exempted from sedation if you are under certain medications like antihistamines. Please schedule an appointment with us, and find dental treatment under the right sedation type today.