Your Sedation Dentistry Guide

Regular dental visits and restorative care is crucial for your oral health. However, many people skip dental visits because they fear pain and have dental-related anxiety. If you would like to know more about sedation dentistry, keep reading.

Who Can Benefit From Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is a great option if you have dental-related anxiety. Sedation dentistry leaves you feeling relaxed, and many patients have little memory of the visit. Even if you just need a cleaning, you can request sedation dentistry. However, many people chose it for more invasive procedures like:

• Fillings
• Root canal treatment
• Crowns/veneers
• Dental bridges

Sedation dentistry is also a good idea for long appointments. Sitting in the dental chair after a few hours can become uncomfortable and stressful even if you don't have dental-related anxiety. Sedation dentistry helps make the process seem like it passes quickly, so you don't realize how long you've been sitting in the dental chair.

What Form of Sedation Is Right for You?

The most basic form of sedation dentistry is nitrous oxide or inhalation sedation. While you breathe in a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a device over your nose, you feel euphoric, groggy, and relaxed. This is a great option if you are having a more minor treatment like cleaning or fillings. It's also the right choice if you need to drive yourself home because the effects quickly dissipate.

If you're having more complex procedures or have particularly bad dental anxiety, you may want oral sedation and/or IV sedation. Both can also be used in conjunction with nitrous oxide. They are more powerful than nitrous oxide, but they do not flush from your system. Therefore, you'll still feel groggy after treatment.

Who Offers Sedation Dentistry?

Luckily, you don't usually need a specialist for sedation dentistry. Most general dentists offer some level of sedation dentistry. In addition, if you do need to see a specialist for a condition like a root canal treatment, they also usually offer sedation options.

If you need unconscious sedation because of a major restoration/cosmetic procedure, or you have severe phobias about the dentist, not all general dentists may be able to help. In the case of asleep sedation, you may need a specialist to better monitor your vitals during sedation.

Sedation dentistry helps many patients feel relaxed at the dentist's. Besides helping you feel calm, it makes the appointment fly by. If you would like to know more about sedation dentistry, contact a dentist in your area today.