It’s perfectly normal to get nervous before a dental appointment. In fact, some people get so anxious that they’re not even able to bring themselves to make an appointment. Still, these people deserve oral health care as much as anyone else.
That’s where sedation dentistry comes in. By safely sedating someone before a dental procedure, you allow them to receive the care they need while eliminating the stress and anxiety of the visit. Others who may find sedation dentistry helpful are those with overly sensitive gag reflexes, sensitive teeth, a fear of needles, claustrophobia, issues controlling movements, and/or special needs. If you feel like this might be right for you, here’s what you should know about sedation dentistry:
Types of Dental Sedation
Nitrous oxide is a form of dental sedation you may know better as laughing gas. It’s a sedative gas mixed with oxygen that helps you feel relaxed during your visit. It’s quite mild and will wear off a few minutes after the gas flow stops.
Oral sedation involves taking a medication before your treatment to help you feel at ease. Oral sedation does not involve needles and patients will often have little to no memory of the procedure.
IV sedation is a fast-acting option that involves administrating the sedative intravenously. IV sedation is sometimes referred to as “twilight” or “sleep” dentistry because patients feel extremely relaxed but does not put them fully to sleep. IV sedation allows for better control the level of sedation. This is ideal for procedures like the All-on-4 treatment concept.
How They Are Used
Nitrous oxide is generally used for either quicker, less invasive procedures or for a patient that has a lower-level anxiety.
Oral sedation is most often used for anxious patients, especially ones who are afraid of needles. It’s perfect for procedures where the patient must be awake and still able to follow instructions while sedated.
Since IV sedation is likely to put you to sleep, with little or no memory of your visit, it’s generally used for lengthy procedures or people with severe anxiety.
Here at Center For Implant Dentistry, we have an in-house anesthesiologist who can determine what type of sedation dentistry is right for you. If you’re interested in sedation dentistry, schedule an appointment at our Bakersfield, CA office today!