Rest Easy With Sedation Dentistry
Does the thought of visiting a dentist for any procedure scare you? Talk to your dentist about sedation dentistry. Depending on the severity of your phobia, you can get sedation for any procedure, from the most uncomplicated ones like teeth cleaning to invasive ones like implants.
Dental visits are scary for children and adults who experience anxiety, fear, and worry about what will happen and how much their procedure will hurt. However, you can rest easy at Ponderosa Dental Center in Bend, OR; Dr. Benjamin De Graff offers sedation dentistry that relieves your anxiety and allows you to relax during dental procedures.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry involves using pharmacological agents to calm and relax a patient before a dental procedure. It is a technique that induces depression in the central nervous system and allows your dentist to administer treatment while allowing verbal contact with their patient.
Sedation dentistry provides an anxiety-free and relaxing experience for people who experience anxiety and fear of dentists. It benefits people with dental anxiety and those undergoing lengthy procedures.
There are various levels of sedation dentistry, and they include;
- Minimum sedation where a patient is sedated but awake.
- Conscious sedation where the patient is in a deep state of relaxation but awake, and they are likely to forget the procedure.
- Deep sedation where the patient is awake but nearly unconscious.
- General anesthesia where the patient is completely unconscious and requires assisted breathing.
Who Needs Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is helpful for people of all ages, including children. Our dentists at Ponderosa Dental Center in Bend, OR, will recommend sedation dentistry if;
- You have dental anxiety
- You fear dentist visits
- You have an overly sensitive gag reflex
- You have extreme teeth sensitivity
- You have low sensitivity to local anesthetic
- You feel claustrophobic on the dental chair
- You have special needs or have mental challenges
Types of Sedation Used in Dentistry
Your dentist will choose the type of sedation to use on you depending on;
- Your level of anxiety
- The length of your procedure
- Your health history
- Your personal choice
The common types of sedation used are;
Nitrous Oxide(Laughing Gas)
It is the most common type of sedation, also called the laughing gas. Nitrous oxide is a fast-acting gas given through inhalation using a mask or nosepiece.
It causes relaxation in 3-5 minutes, and your dentist can control the dosage throughout the procedure, after which they flash it out of your system using pure oxygen.
Oral Conscious Sedation
This kind of sedation involves using an oral pill an hour before your procedure. It affects your memory and motor skills.
Intravenous Sedation
It is the most profound form of sedation in a dentist’s office that your dentist delivers to your system through an IV line.
Risks of Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is a safe procedure with minimum side effects. It has a low risk of complications since a licensed healthcare provider administers it. Possible side effects include;
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Bruising from an IV line
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry has numerous benefits, mainly because patients feel their procedure only takes a few minutes. The benefits include;
Anxiety relief
Dental anxiety and phobia are genuine medical concerns for most patients. Sedation dentistry calms you during and after the procedure.
Pain relief
Sedation dentistry numbs the patient, making the procedure painless.
Reduction in a gag reflex
Patients with a high gag reflex make procedures that involve hand tools deep inside the mouth hard to perform and uncomfortable.
Fast procedure
The dentist can work faster since they operate without the patient’s nervous interference.
Safe
Sedation dentistry is safe, especially when administered by a trained professional.
Final Thought
Don’t let your anxiety and fear stop you from seeking dental treatment. Visit our website to learn more about sedation dentistry, or you can contact us if you need dental treatment. We offer nitrous oxide and oral sedation dentistry at Ponderosa Dental Center in Bend, OR.