What to Know Before Sedation Dental Treatment
Dental anxiety or phobia has hindered almost 12% of the population from receiving dental treatment. Dental phobia or anxiety can arise due to past experiences, bad information, fear of pain, fear of injections, etc. Irrespective of the reasons, you cannot skip dental care since there are issues that only our dentist in Phoenix can fix.
Regularly visiting our dentist benefits your oral health; that’s why we offer sedation dental treatment. Sedation dentistry has been around for several decades, but it is way better than ever. The modes of administration, techniques, and drugs have been revamped to ensure that every patient receives the care they need.
So, if you need to undergo a dental procedure and need sedation dentistry, you must have some concerns or questions. Keep on reading!
Are Sedatives Different From Anesthetics?
You might fall victim to the common misconception that sedatives and anesthetics mean the same thing. They don’t! Sedatives are drugs that our dentist administers to calm your nerves and help you relax during dental procedures.
On the other hand, anesthetics are drugs our dentist administers to numb your senses to stop you from feeling pain during dental procedures.
So, in sedation dental treatment, our dentist will use a combination of anesthetics and sedatives to ensure that you are relaxed and not in pain.
Are There Different Types of Sedation?
Sedation dentistry is always tailored to meet your specific needs. So, that means you will be presented with the various choices that you can choose. Here they are:
- Oral Sedation
Our dentist will give you the drugs which you will orally take. The drugs will take a couple of minutes before they take effect.
You will be awake, responsive, and relaxed during the whole procedure. You might feel a bit exhausted, and there might be slight amnesia after the procedure. It is a form of conscious sedation that offers mild to moderate sedation, depending on the dosage.
- Inhalation Sedation
Another type of conscious sedation is inhalation sedation. Our dentist will administer the sedative via a gas mask placed over your nose. The gas used is “laughing gas,” or nitrous oxide. It takes a few moments to take effect. It is a mild form of sedation and is perfect for kids.
- IV Sedation
In this case, our dentist will administer the sedative via your veins. It works much faster than the other types of sedation. The dosage can be adjusted to provide the desired results. It can render you unconscious or partially awake.
General anesthesia is also a form of sedation where the sedative is administered via the veins. It renders you unconscious since it is a form of deep sedation.
Are Doses Very Specific?
You should not try to self-medicate when you have dental anxiety. Get to our offices and let our dentist administer the sedative. The doses are specific so that the results are as expected.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Most of the sedatives used in dentistry have been used for a long time, so a lot of information and studies are done to verify their safety and efficacy. However, you will need a dentist who has handled sedatives to administer the required dose. Plus, the type of sedative will be determined by the severity of your anxiety.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Dental Sedation?
How long it takes for you to recover from dental sedation is dependent on the type of sedation. For instance, the effects of laughing gas wear off almost immediately. So, you can even drive yourself. However, oral sedation and IV sedation are a bit different.
You might be a bit cognitive after the procedure, but you might not just get on with your day as you are used to. You will need someone to be with you for about three hours. In any case, full recovery after sedation will take place after 24 hours.
Will I Feel Any Pain With Dental Sedation?
No. Sedation dentistry is offered to help you relax and ensure that you are not in pain. So, our dentist will administer sedatives and anesthetics to ensure you are comfortable.
Can People Without Dental Anxiety Benefit From Sedation Dentistry?
Primarily, sedation dental in Phoenix is for patients with dental anxiety. However, you can also benefit from the service if you:
- Have problems staying still
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Need extensive dental work
- Have sensitive teeth and gums
- Have a low pain threshold
So, are you ready to receive dental care? Contact our dental office, AZ Healthy Smiles, to schedule an appointment.