What You Should Know About Sedation Dentistry
Even if you take great care of your teeth, visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and exams is important. However, many people suffer from anxiety over visiting the dentist. If you are one of the many Americans who is avoiding preventative care or restorative care because you fear going to the dentist, you must check out these three facts regarding sedation dentistry.
It Reduces Anxiety
The sedatives used during sedation dentistry help reduce some pain during treatment, but they are mostly designed to help relieve stress and anxiety. You'll still get a local anesthetic, so you can't feel anything. The sedatives, however, keep your mind and body calm. In many cases, the entire treatment may feel like a dream, and even long treatments seem fast. This helps because you are less likely to focus on what the dentist is doing, which reduces fear. Also, after your treatment, you'll likely remember little, which also helps keep patients calm after treatment, ensuring they will return.
You Are Still Awake
Some people don't like the idea of sedation dentistry because they fear it puts them to sleep, but most forms of sedation dentistry are not designed to knock you out. The most common forms include nitrous oxide, oral sedatives, and IV conscious sedatives, with nitrous being the weakest sedative and IV conscious being the strongest. You may still fall asleep because you become so calm and relaxed during treatment, but if you do, you easily wake when the dentist speaks to you. For more serious treatments, such as oral surgery, your dentist may suggest deep sedation, which does put you unconscious.
You May Need a Driver
If you choose sedation dentistry, you may need someone to drive you home. With nitrous oxide, the gas is flushed out of your system quickly, so you can drive to and from your appointment. With oral sedation, you take a pill before your appointment, so you will likely be too groggy to drive to and from the dentist. Lastly, with IV conscious sedation, you will be sleepy after the procedure, so you will need someone to take you home. In some cases, your dentist may also provide a lower dose of an oral sedative to take in addition to the IV conscious sedation.
You don't have to avoid the dentist because of anxiety. With sedation dentistry, going to the dentist can seem like a quick dream. For more information, contact a dentist office, like Milner Dentistry, today and ask if sedation dentistry is offered.