Dental procedures can be lengthy and painful. Dentists leverage sedation techniques to enhance patients’ comfort. The main types of Encino sedation dentistry include nitrous oxide and IV sedatives. Patients should seek professional assistance before receiving sedation during dentistry because these techniques require adequate training and expertise to minimize the risk of complications.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is a technique to enhance comfort and ensure patients remain relaxed and calm during dental procedures. Sedation dentistry does not involve patients being unconscious. Many patients under sedation remain awake during the process but are carefree about whatever happens. Sedation dentistry creates short-term amnesia, especially to pain. Your nerves are in a state where they cannot sensitize pain while you remain conscious.
Who is a candidate for sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is not specific to age. Children and adults can all benefit from this technique. However, sedation dentistry is ideal for the following:
- Patients with dental anxiety: Some patients are afraid of dental procedures and have problems sitting still during basic dental processes. For this reason, a dentist may recommend sedation to promote calmness and relaxation.
- Sensitive gag reflex: Sedation dentistry can prevent gag reflexes from disrupting a dental procedure.
- Extreme tooth sensitivity: Physicians usually conduct an oral examination on patients to understand their condition. If your dentist detects severe tooth and gum sensitivity, you might require sedation during a dental procedure.
What types of sedation do dentists use?
There are many types of sedation that dentists can use during dental procedures. However, every type provides different levels of sedation. Your doctor will analyze various factors influencing your need for sedation and thus recommend the most suitable approach. The most common types of sedation that dentists use include:
Nitrous oxide
You might be familiar with nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. Your dentist will place a nosepiece or mask over your nose and mouth and then administer the gas. You should start to feel the calming effects of this drug after about three minutes. Patients visually need different dosages at different times during the procedure. Your dentist will adjust the dosage accordingly, and it is the significance of training and expertise for optimized sedation. Dentists usually introduce pure oxygen to flush any remaining nitrous oxide out of a patient’s system.
Oral conscious sedation
Oral conscious sedation is usually in pill form, for example, triazolam, which patients consume an hour before their procedure. Liquid sedation like midazolam oral syrup is preferable for pediatric dentistry. The grogginess resulting from oral sedation can make a patient fall asleep. However, you will not fall into a deep sleep, and a dentist can gently nudge you to wake up and communicate. You cannot drive after the procedure because this type of sedation affects memory and motor skills.
Intravenous sedation
Your dentist will use an IV line to deliver sedative medication. However, monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels is crucial to detect complications. IV sedation effects are intense and make most patients fall asleep, thus perfect for lengthy procedures.
Contact Sargon Dental if you want to know what types of sedation dentistry are available to help you feel comfortable during a dental procedure.
Johnson