admin
Mar 23, 2023
Dental anxiety is a common trait exhibited by individuals who are scared of dental procedures. It may stem from a painful experience in the past or exaggerated stories narrated by acquaintances. Many stay away from regular checkups and minor treatments because of this fear. However, it leads to bigger, more painful, and more expensive complications.
Thus, it makes more sense to adhere to the advice of your dentist and visit them every six months. However, if dental anxiety stops you from taking the final step, opt for sedation dentistry to say goodbye to fear and nervousness. Here is everything you need to know about sedation during dental treatments that helps you relax. It changes the intimidating experience into a fulfilling and comforting event that saves your teeth from further damage.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is the use of sedative medicine to make the patient take it easy when they are stressed out on the dental chair. It is also helpful in eliminating pain and makes the process relaxing. It helps the dentist Hope Island to complete the procedure smoothly without any tense moments that can affect the results.
Sedation dentistry is also used in cases of oral surgery or when young children need to undergo complex procedures like a root canal. It is also recommended when patients need multiple treatments and are feeling anxious about the appointment.
In some cases, sedation can be combined with a local anaesthetic by the dentist, which helps in relieving pain and anxiety at the same time. Many kids and adults suffer from dental anxiety. The whole idea of dental equipment going into the mouth and drilling holes in teeth, and cutting through gums can leave people sweating and gasping.
It can make the treatment challenging for the dentist because the patient will be jumpy and may not follow instructions, such as opening the mouth wide or allowing an x-ray of the jaw.
What Are the Different Types of Sedation Dentistry?
The types of sedation dentistry depend on the medicine used for sedation. Here are the three main types:
- Nitrous Oxide for Sedation Dentistry
Also known as happy gas, nitrous oxide is a safe sedative that is often used for kids’ dental procedures. The sedative is mixed with oxygen and supplied through a mask that is worn over the nose by the child. The gas is colourless and has no smell, making it utterly comfortable for children and adults to inhale it.
A significant advantage of this using this gas is that it starts showing results immediately by soothing the nerves of a frazzled patient. Also, it does not lead to unconsciousness and allows the dentist to complete the procedure effectively.
- Sedation Dentistry With Oral Medicines
Medicines can be prescribed by the dentist to get rid of anxiety and must be taken an hour before the appointment. However, they can make the patient drowsy and fall asleep. These medicines produce a calming effect and stop the brain from over-thinking.
- Intravenous Injections for Sedation Dentistry
In this type of sedation, an anaesthesiologist administers an intravenous injection that makes the patient unconscious or sleepy.
How Does Sedation Dentistry Help?
Sedation is a powerful tool to treat people who suffer from severe dental problems and helps save a diseased tooth. Neglecting tooth and gum issues can lead to deterioration of overall health and hygiene levels. Thus, dentists use this technique to take away the panic and fright from the procedure.
They need to know the medical history of the patient before prescribing the type of sedation to be used. People who suffer from low anxiety are usually given happy gas sedation because it is lighter and harmless. It wears off quickly and has no side effects if you follow the instructions of the dentist in Hope Island.
The only case where it can be harmful is when the patient inhales the gas in large quantities. It can make them feel nauseous, light-headed and tired. The supervision of an expert dentist ensures that the sedation goes smoothly and there are after-effects.
The patient can easily drive back home after this type of sedation. For those who suffer from moderate dental anxiety, oral medicines are the best choice. These anti-anxiety tablets usually include benzodiazepines and help to induce sleep. Thus, the patient becomes stress-free and calm. Its side effects include nausea, headache, sweating, etc.
The patient might become unaware of the procedure but is in a position to follow the dentist’s instructions. However, they also need to be given local anaesthesia to make the process painless.
If the patient showcases extreme anxiety levels, the dentist has no option but to use general anaesthesia, which leads to deep sleep or unconsciousness. It will make the process painless as well.
Wrapping Up
Dental anxiety is the fear of visiting your dentist. However, most complex treatments like root canals and implants are done after numbing the area and are almost painless. Still, if you are scared to book an appointment, ask your practitioner about sedation dentistry.
