What is Sedation Dentistry and How Can It Help Me?

Worried about that big job interview? Anxious about that first date? Meeting new people at the family reunion?

There are times in life when you aren’t comfortable in a situation, but you just have to power through it the best that you can. Fortunately, when it’s time to go to the dentist at least you can count on sedation dentistry to calm your nerves. There are several types depending on the level of tranquility you need.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of sedation dentistry in La Porte. Now, if only you could be so calm in that job interview and still offer coherent answers.

What Are the Different Types of Sedation Dentistry?

Oral sedation involves the administration of sedative drugs by mouth usually about one hour before the appointment. With inhaled sedation, you breathe nitrous oxide through a mask that’s placed over your nose.

With IV sedation, an anti-anxiety drug is administered into the bloodstream during dental treatment. As for general anesthesia, it’s a combination of medications that put you in a sleep-like state before surgery. This is reserved for the most intense dental procedures, considering you would be unconscious.

How Can Sedation Dentistry Help Me?

While there are different methods of sedation dentistry, they have some common benefits:

• Anxiety Relief: As referenced in the introduction, sedation dentistry is essential for the most nervous patients to undergo procedures comfortably. Some people feel completely overwhelmed with fear that a procedure will hurt or go wrong, and they would not go to the dentist if not for the calming effects of sedation dentistry.
• Anterograde Amnesia: In sedation dentistry, not being able to remember what happened during a procedure is a desirable outcome for many people. Patients who do remember an unpleasant experience can develop a phobia. But in this case, the mind doesn’t create new memories, which can help reduce the fear a patient will have in future visits.
• Reduction in the Gag Reflex: A gag reflex is generally a good thing for a person, but it can be a hindrance when a dentist is trying to work in someone’s mouth. A patient’s spasms could lead to damage, depending on the procedure. With sedation dentistry, the gag reflex is paralyzed so the dentist can work faster and more efficiently.
• Pain Relief: Nobody wants to endure pain with their teeth or gums during a procedure. With sedation dentistry, the brain cannot register pain. This is a big reason for the popularity of sedation.

As you can see, using sedation during your dental visits makes the procedure easier for you to deal with and helps the dentist focus on their work. Depending on the treatment, the level of sedation can be adjusted accordingly and dictate how it is administered. Talk to your dentist about the varieties of sedation they offer to see which one is most appropriate for you.

About the Practice

At Region Dental, we promise gentle, personalized care. Instead of rushing patients in and out as fast as possible, we are more concerned about building trusting relationships with you and your family. The most important thing is that you feel completely satisfied with the results at the end of a procedure. In our office, we utilize nitrous oxide for sedation dentistry. It provides a temporary state of calm that wears off quickly so that you’ll be able to carry on with your daily routine after you leave the office. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (219) 362-8980.