Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective method of relieving fear and anxiety associated with dental visits. It allows years of pending dental work to be completed in a single visit. Patients can sleep soundly during their dental visit having little or no memory of any procedure.
During dental procedures, patients will not be aware of the sounds, sights, and smells of the dental office. They will be breathing by themselves and will not be intubated. Sedation dentistry is helpful for people with physical or mental handicaps to be treated successfully. Patients with behavioral issues also find sedation dentistry useful.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
This type of dentistry is available in different varieties and sedation dentistry Houston will review several factors including the patient’s medical history and oral needs. This will be to determine the type of sedation best suited to the patient’s needs. Patients are suggested to enquire with sedation dentistry in Porter, TX, to learn more about dental sedation and schedule a consultation with their experienced dentists. Patients will be able to choose from one of the following options mentioned below.
- Nitrous oxide or laughing gas.
- Oral sedation.
- Intravenous sedation.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide or inhalation sedation is a commonly used method by dentists during dental treatments. A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen will be administered through a small inhaler mask placed on the patient’s nose. Patients will be aware of the treatment and also be able to respond to the dentist or dental hygienist during the procedure. However, they will be relaxed and comfortable. Inhalation sedation is suitable for mild to moderate levels of dental anxiety. It can also reduce and eliminate gagging in patients that may have a gag reflex. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off immediately as it is turned off to reduce any recovery time.
Oral Sedation
When oral sedation is administered patients will experience a comfortable, relaxed and safe journey with little or no anxiety. The goal of oral sedation is not to create sleep and therefore patients will still be aware of what is happening around them. This type of sedation will make the patient feel that he or she had a good time relaxing during the entire appointment.
During the interview for the sedation with sedation dentistry highway 6 the dentist will discuss which oral medicine works best for the patient after considering his or her medical history, the dental procedures scheduled as well as the duration of the appointment. Written instructions will be provided to the patient to follow before and after the appointment to help them have an effective experience with the sedation. Patients will be suggested to have a companion with them to drive to and from the dentist’s office and remain with them at home until they have fully recovered.
Intravenous Sedation
Intravenous sedation will require antianxiety medications to be administered precisely into the patient’s bloodstream. The patient will be relaxed and at ease within seconds while being monitored for safety and comfort. They will also be administered a local anesthetic at the site of the procedure to ensure they are comfortable during the treatment. Here again, patients will be advised to have a responsible adult to drive them to and from the appointment for IV sedation and stay with them for at least 24 hours. Additional written instructions will also be provided by the dentist which must be followed stringently.
Saying Goodbye to Dental Anxiety with Sedation Dentistry
The fear of the dentist keeps many people away from making dental visits even when they require intensive dental treatments. Many people are fearful of visiting the dentists even for routine dental cleanings and checkups which in most cases are not at all painful. However, people suffering from a problem with cavities or even a root canal will have to undergo treatment that requires the dentist to use drills and tools that can make a patient anxious. It is to overcome such situations that dental sedation has been discovered and has proven extremely successful to say goodbye to dental anxiety even for children. The dentists at sedation dentistry East Little York are treating patients of all ages comfortably and effectively with the help of dental sedation to make it easier for all to have the dental treatments they need.