Did you know that approximately 36% of American adults have dental anxiety? If you fear going to the dentist, you are not alone. While it is not uncommon to be afraid of the dentist, you must go anyways.
If you don’t have regular dental cleanings and exams, you may experience tooth decay, gum disease, or tooth loss. If the thought of visiting the dentist gives you chills, you should consider receiving sedation for dental work.
How does dental sedation work? Keep reading to learn all about sedation dentistry and if it is right for you.
Table of Contents
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is the process of using sedation during dental procedures to allow patients to relax. Even though patients are sedated, they are often still awake during the procedure.
Patients can choose to have moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia.
With moderate sedation, you will be awake during the dental procedure, but you won’t remember most of it. You may still be able to drive once the procedure is over.
If you choose to get deep sedation, you may or may not be conscious. Deep sedation is usually best for people with severe dental anxiety that don’t want to have general anesthesia. If you choose to get general anesthesia, you will be unconscious.
Here are the most common types of sedation dentists use:
Laughing Gas
Laughing gas, technically known as nitrous oxide, is a gas that puts you in a moderate state of sedation. If you choose to get laughing gas, you will receive it right before your procedure, and it may wear off in time for you to drive home.
Oral Sedatives
Oral sedatives are taken in pill form to help you relax during the dental procedure. With oral sedatives, you will be awake during the procedure, but you will not be able to drive yourself home.
General Anesthesia
If you want to be completely unconscious for the dental work, general anesthesia may be the best option. Keep in mind that there are additional risks involved with having anesthesia.
Be sure to talk to your dentist to decide what the best type of sedation is for you. While moderate sedation may be best for some people, others may have severe anxiety and need more.
Who Is Sedation Dentistry Best For?
Are you wondering if sedation dentistry is best for you? Here are some signs that you could benefit from sedation dentistry:
- Low pain tolerance
- Dental phobia
- Anxiety
- Sensitive teeth
- Sensitive gag reflex
If you suffer from any of those issues, sedation dentistry can make your time at the dentist better because you can sleep during dental work. Your dentist may recommend sedation if you have a large number of dental problems that need fixing.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
Being able to visit the dentist without stress is the goal of receiving sedation during dental procedures. Now that you have an understanding of what sedation dentistry is and who needs it, it is time to review the benefits.
Reduced Anxiety
One of the main benefits of sedation dentistry is less anxiety. Some people are so fearful of the dentist that they quit going. In some cases, people experience trauma at a young age that creates a phobia of the dentist.
While having a fear of the dentist is understandable, it’s still necessary to go. When people quit going to the dentist, dental problems go untreated and get worse.
Not going to the dentist for an extended period can cause tooth loss, bone loss, infection, and even death. With sedation, even the most anxious patients can visit the dentist without stress.
No Pain
Are you someone that has a low pain tolerance? Do you feel pain with normal numbing procedures? If so, you should try sedation dentistry because it removes the pain.
When you have dental work done under sedation, you will not feel any pain. Depending on the type of sedation you choose, you may not even be conscious. It’s an ideal situation because you get to care for your teeth without discomfort.
Less Likely to Gag
Unfortunately, it is easy to gag while having dental work because the dentist’s hand and tools are in your mouth. In addition to making you uncomfortable, if you are gagging a lot it makes it harder for the dentist to work.
An easy way to fix this problem is by choosing sedation. If you are sedated for your dental procedure, you will be less likely to gag because you will have relaxed muscles.
Faster Procedure
When you are under sedation, the dentist can work faster because they don’t have to worry about you. Normally, the dentist may have to ask you to open your mouth wider or explain what they are doing.
If you are under sedation, they can focus on completing the procedure. This is especially true for people with anxiety because the dentist may have to stop often to calm the person down.
Receive Multiple Procedures
Another benefit of sedation dentistry is that you can receive many different procedures at one time. If you need to have many cavities filled, a root canal, and you need to have a tooth removed, sedation will allow the dentist to work on everything at once.
This is easier for the dentist because they won’t have to schedule multiple appointments. It is easier for you because you won’t have to worry about pain or getting impatient during the procedure.
Do You Need Sedation for Dental Work?
Dentists use sedation to make dental work more comfortable for patients. Sedation dentistry is best for patients with anxiety, low pain tolerance, multiple dental procedures, and tooth sensitivity.
If you believe that you could benefit from sedation for dental work, you should search for a sedation dentist near you. If you enjoyed reading this article, be sure to check out our other articles in the health category.
