3 Facts About Sedation Dentistry That You Must Know

3 Facts About Sedation Dentistry That You Must Know

Dec 01, 2020
Most dental procedures require sedation. If you have undergone any dental procedure, you may have heard of sedation. Sedation dentistry is what makes most dental procedures possible. It calms down patients and enables the dentist to treat them. Sedation has helped many patients achieve optimal oral health. Knowing everything about sedation is important. It helps you know what to expect when you come in for any dental procedure. Having information about sedation will also go a long way in helping you overcome dental anxiety. This article aims at giving you all the important information you need about this dentistry branch.  Read on to find out more.

Sedation Dentistry Explained

This is a dentistry branch that aims at relaxing and calming down patients during dental procedures.  It also gives the dentist an easy time to treat you. Patients with dental anxiety and phobia are able to visit the dentist thanks to sedation dentistry. Without it, patients will skip dental visits. This will lead to poor dental health. Once patients know that sedation will keep them relaxed, they can get over their anxiety. Our NW Calgary dentist will talk to you about sedation when you visit the clinic.  You will be able to come back for your next dental visit without anxiety.

Who Needs Sedation Dentistry?

Patients who experience dental anxiety when in a dental setting require sedation. However, most dental procedures call for sedation even in patients without anxiety. You should talk to a dentist near you about sedation if you have dental anxiety. The dentist will help you get dental care and improve your dental health.

What are The Different Levels of Sedation?

There are four levels of sedation. We use these levels to help patients experience calmness during dental procedures. The four levels are minimal sedation, moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia. Minimal Sedation We use this level of sedation for patients with low levels of dental anxiety. Our dentist can administer the sedative through inhalation or orally. You will be relaxed, but you will be awake, and you will be able to respond to physical stimulation. Moderate Sedation Patients with high dental anxiety levels are candidates for this level. You will respond to verbal commands when we use this level of sedation. We also use this level if patients need a lot of dental work. Deep Sedation We rarely use this level of sedation. Those patients with severe dental anxiety qualify for this level of sedation. We will also use deep sedation if the procedure is intense and will take time. You will require assistance to maintain a patent airway at this level. General Anesthesia We only use this level if the patient has severe dental phobia or is undergoing an intense surgery procedure.  In this level, you will be fully unconscious, and arousing you won’t be easy. You will also need help to maintain a patent airway in this level.

Types Of Sedation

There are several types of sedation we can use to calm you down. These are the common types of sedation we use. Inhaled Sedation You will inhale laughing gas with oxygen to help you relax. Talk to a sedation dentist in NW Calgary about this option if you have dental anxiety. The advantage of this option is that you will drive yourself home after the procedure. This is because this type of sedation takes a short time to wear off. IV Sedation In this option, we deliver the sedative through an IV line.  Its effect is quick, and our dentist will be able to moderate the dosage. With IV sedation, you won’t be able to drive yourself home. This because the sedative will take time to wear off. Oral Sedation We use this option to achieve minimal or moderate levels of sedation. For oral sedation, we will give you a pill to take an hour prior to the procedure. Most dental procedures need oral sedation to keep the patient calm and relaxed. General Anesthesia This option renders you completely unconscious.  We use general anesthesia for intense procedures that take time. At times we use both IV and inhaled gases for general anesthesia.