Sedation Dentistry, Is It For You? By Dr. Benjamin Kim At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Sedation dentistry employs several different methods to safely sedate patients. Although sedation dentistry is not for everyone, if you avoid getting your teeth taken care of because of fear, paranoia or discomfort, this method can be extremely beneficial. Sedation makes dental visits relaxing and amnesiac for those who fear pain, needles, those with super sensitive teeth and those who are immune to the numbing effects of typical freezing techniques. It is also ideal for patients who want to receive extensive treatments in a single visit because it allows a dental professional to do a large amount of work with no discomfort on your part.

It is common knowledge that healthy teeth and gums contribute to a great physical appearance and a healthy body. Also, in order to achieve that health, as part of good oral hygiene, you must have regular dental cleanings and evaluations. Thus, there is no way around going to the dentist unless you are willing to risk tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss.

If you are one of those people that dread climbing up onto that dentist chair and hear the machines whir around your face, you may want to explore sedation dentistry options. Sedation dentistry will allow you, as a patient, to become drowsy and, in most cases, sleep right through your dental procedures. There are three different types of sedation commonly used in dental practices. These are:

1. The lightest form of sedation is nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. This sedative produces a mild sense of relaxation.

2. A moderate form of sedation is oral sedation. This form typically uses two pills taken before the dental visit to produce a deep state of relaxation. It is best used for short appointments, because once the drug reaches its peak state of relaxation it slowly begins to wear off.

3. The deepest form of sedation is IV sedation or sleep dentistry. This form of sedation uses pain relieving and sedative drugs to create a sleep like state where the patient is virtually unaware of the dentistry being preformed. Patients that are under IV sedation typically have little or no memory of the visit. Only about 4% of dentists have the training and licensing to provide IV sedation.

Some dentists have access to all of the above forms of sedation to help a patient feel comfortable before, during and after treatment. Combinations of the methods described above are also an option that is used by some practices. This is especially true if you suffer from severe levels of anxiety. In these cases, a popular solution is to prescribe an oral sedation medication to help you to relax before coming in to the office. You will typically be required to take the first pill the night before the appointment and the other should be taken the morning of the scheduled treatment.

When you arrive at the office for treatment, nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen is used to further maintain your relaxed state while the IV Sedation is started. Once you are in a sleep-like state, your dental professional will begin treatment using a local anesthetic. You should have little or no memory of the visit.

If you are a candidate for sedation dentistry, you will want to make sure to have someone drive you to and from home, before and after your appointment. Although you may feel awake and aware, typically sedatives will take several hours to completely wear off.

In summary, sedation dentistry is not an option for everyone. However, it is important to your health that you visit your dentist regularly and if being sedated is the only way you can muster the courage, consider sedation dentistry an option while receiving your dental treatment.

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