An In-Depth Guide to Sedation Dentistry: How Does It Help You?

You must have regular dental exams and cleanings to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy. Unfortunately, if you are among the 30 percent of Canadians avoiding visits to dentists because of dental phobia, rest assured you have plenty of company. However, dentists can reassure you that a sedative method is now available to alleviate your anxiety to make your dental visits a confident and calm endeavor.

Dental Anxiety and Phobia

If you neglect to visit the dentist near me for regular appointments or only prefer visiting them when any emergency compels you to, you are probably a victim of dental anxiety or dental phobia. You likely avoid visiting dentists for regular cleanings, and your hands get clammy while waiting in the dentist’s waiting room. You also become nervous when it is your turn to get in the dentist’s chair. You avoid dental visits altogether if you have dental phobia because you don’t rest well enough the night before your appointment and feel sick when you are at the dentist’s office.

If the symptoms mentioned above confront you, take solace knowing that you are one among millions with similar symptoms. Fortunately, a sedative method to help you feel relaxed and comfortable in the dentist’s office is now available with sedation dentistry. However, if you are unaware of this technique, please continue reading to learn more about dental sedation.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Depending on your level of dental anxiety or phobia, different types of sedation practices to help you through your dental appointment are available. The types of sedation include oral sedatives, nitrous oxide sedation, intravenous sedation, and general anesthesia. The use of sedatives permits people who usually avoid dental visits to receive the essential dental care they need.

What Types of Sedation Are Available?

Oral Sedatives
Oral sedatives include drugs like tranquilizers, depressants, anti-anxiety medications, nitrous oxide delivered in various ways. The dentist in SE Calgary prescribes the drugs for you to take an hour before your appointment to relax you. However, oral sedatives do not provide any pain relief making local anesthesia in your mouth necessary during the procedure. In addition, oral sedatives do not make you unconscious but keep you awake during your visit for your safety and cooperation.

Intravenous Sedation
Intravenous sedation is another variety of anti-anxiety medication similar to oral sedatives but not providing pain relief making local anesthesia essential in the mouth. When receiving intravenous anesthesia, the medication is delivered via a vein in the arm, causing you to fall asleep.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide is a popular technique for sedating patients because it helps provide pain relief besides sedating you. Nitrous oxide is administered via a mask, allowing you to remain conscious but in a relaxed and calm state. Although nitrous oxide has some pain-relieving properties, local anesthesia also becomes necessary to eliminate all pain.

General Anesthesia
Licensed and trained professionals from sedation dentistry in Calgary, AB, administer general anesthesia via an IV into your arm putting you in a relaxed state and keeping you unconscious through your appointment. The professionals monitor your vitals throughout your appointment for your safety. Therefore, you will likely not remember your work upon waking up.

Which Type of Sedation Is Best Suited for You?

Most dental patients in America and Canada currently prefer oral sedatives because the technique is easy and offers a no-needle approach. The medications prescribed by the artist create a comfortable experience ensuring most patients do not remember their visit. Patients believe they slept through their appointment, while in reality, oral sedatives maintain a level of consciousness in patients.

The sedative methods used to sedate you vary in strength and purpose. Your dentist selects the sedation dentistry option best suited for your specific situation after considering the treatments you need and the duration of the procedure. The dental professional requests for your medical history along with a list of medications you take to ensure they provide appropriate sedatives. Although your dentist eventually determines what sedatives are best for your needs, you can request more potent medicines if you suffer from severe dental anxiety.

If you have been avoiding dental visits because of the all-too-familiar dental anxiety or phobia, the time has now arrived to put your fears aside and visit Meadows View Dental to receive any dental procedure needed by requesting sedation dentistry.