Candidates for Sedation Dentistry
There are many different ways that a dental health specialist can make your visit as comfortable and effective as possible. Using the latest advances in dental technology means allowing patients to achieve the best in dental care without any undue stress or anxiety. There's actually quite a bit of stress and anxiety when it comes to oral surgery and major dental health treatments, which is where sedation dentistry can be very helpful.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry refers to the use of different methods to help patients achieve a relaxed state of being while undergoing treatment. Sedation dentistry is not to be confused with general anesthetic, which renders a patient unconscious. Instead, sedation dentistry leaves patients conscious but relaxed, allowing them to respond to the dentist throughout the treatment process.
There are three common kinds of sedation dentistry:
- IV Sedation - IV sedation involves the intravenous administration of the sedative at the practice.
- Oral Sedation - Oral sedation refers to patients taking a pill or liquid sedative before coming to the practice.
- Nitrous Oxide Sedation - Nitrous oxide sedation involves the inhalation of sedative gas, which is colloquially known as laughing gas.
There are many different ways that sedation dentistry can be beneficial to people. Some common candidates for dental sedation are included below.
Sedation Dentistry and Dental Anxiety
One of the most common reasons our dental health specialists use sedation dentistry is to address patients' problems with anxiety. Dental anxiety can be very serious, causing people to experience major trepidation and panic attacks. Sedation dentistry will eliminate the panic of undergoing dental care and visiting the dentist.
Sedation Dentistry and Poor Gag Reflex
Sometimes patients experience major problems with dental care treatments because of poor gag reflex. When undergoing treatment, such patients will often feel uncomfortable and distressed. By using sedation dentistry, the gag reflex can be kept under control, allowing patients to feel calm throughout treatment.
Sedation Dentistry for Major Dental Treatments
Major dental treatments or involved therapies (e.g., combined treatments that use dental implants in combination with other therapies) can take a long time and be extremely uncomfortable as a result. With sedation dentistry, patients who undergo advanced therapies can feel totally at ease during the entire treatment.
Sedation Dentistry for Other Health Matters
In addition to the above, sedation dentistry is ideal for people who suffer from conditions that make staying still for prolonged amounts of time difficult, including Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy. By undergoing dental sedation, these patients will receive safe dental care and be still and relaxed throughout the treatment process.
Is sedation dentistry right for me?
If you suffer from any of the above, you may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry. It's a good idea to meet with your dentist and discuss these matters in more detail so that you can find out if dental sedation would be of benefit to you.
Schedule a Consultation for Advanced Dental Care Treatment
If you would like more information about sedation dentistry and other options out there for improving your dental health experience, we encourage you to contact our Cocoa and Melbourne dental care centers today. The entire team here looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you achieve the best possible dental health in the process.