Do you feel anxious at the thought of visiting a dentist? Do dental instruments and the drilling sound annoy you? You are not alone. Many have a phobia or fear when it comes to visiting a dentist. But this shouldn’t keep you away from the dental care you deserve.
Sedation dentistry at the Dental practice in Houston, TX, can help overcome these challenges. Avoiding dental visits is not the solution since it can only make your problems worse and negatively impact your oral health. With the advent of modern dentistry, you can overcome dental fear yet reap all the benefits of visiting a dentist through sedation dentistry.
| Sedation dentistry focuses on relieving stress and anxiety during dental procedures through sedation. It helps you stay calm and relaxed so that the dentist can perform dental treatments with ease. It is also called conscious sedation or “twilight sleep” since, technically, you will be awake but in a relaxed state, feeling carefree. It creates short-term amnesia (forgetfulness), where you will experience insensitivity to pain without the loss of consciousness. |
Types of sedation offered in sedation dentistry
Several types of sedation can help ease dental fear and anxiety before dental procedures. These include:
Nitrous oxide
- Commonly known as laughing gas, it is inhaled through a mask that causes calming effects within 3 to 5 minutes of inhalation.
- Once the procedure is over, your dentist will administer pure oxygen to flush out the nitrous oxide.
Oral conscious sedation
- This method involves oral administration of sedative oral pills about an hour before the procedure.
- For pediatric use, dentists often use liquid sedation in the form of syrups.
- It may make you feel groggy, and recovery may not be as quick as nitrous oxide sedation.
Intravenous (IV) sedation
- This is the deepest form of sedation, where the medication is administered directly into your bloodstream through an IV line.
- The dosage will be adjusted according to the age and the length of the procedure.
- You may fall asleep and have little to no memory of the treatment when you wake up.
- This is a form of general anesthesia that makes you fall asleep.
- You may have little to no memory of the treatment when you wake up.
- It is administered by an anesthesiologist in a surgical setting and requires close monitoring of vital signs.
Summary
Sedation dentistry offers a valuable option for you if you experience anxiety and fear related to dental treatments. It offers relaxation, comfort, and pain relief during dental procedures to help you overcome dental fear and access the care you need for a healthy smile.