While many people experience a great deal of anxiety at the thought of going to the dentist’s office, there are many other patients who can be excellent candidates for dental sedation. There is a range of conditions and circumstances that can make sedation dentistry an excellent tool for preserving a patient’s oral health. Here is a brief overview of a few of the reasons why your dentist may recommend treatments like IV or oral conscious sedation.
Why Might Sedation Dentistry Be Necessary?
A few reasons why someone may be an excellent candidate for dental sedation include:
- Dental phobia: Dental sedation treatments are frequently administered to patients who have mild or severe dental anxieties or phobias.
- A sensitive gag reflex: While the gag reflex has saved many from choking, this reaction is so powerful in some people that they cannot sit comfortably through their dental appointments. Dental sedation can often be used to calm the patient and relax their gag reflex while they receive dental care.
- A long treatment time: If a patient needs a complex treatment, it is likely to take more time. It can be difficult to sit comfortably for an extended period, so dental sedation can sometimes be employed to make a long sit in the dentist’s chair go by more quickly for the patient.
- Restlessness: Some people have conditions that make it difficult to sit still and many others are just fidgety. Dental sedation can be used to make it easier for them to sit still throughout their appointment.
How Does Sedation Dentistry Work?
Oral conscious sedation and IV sedation are two treatments that can help patients sit comfortably during their dental appointments. For oral conscious sedation, your dentist will prescribe you a pill to be taken about an hour before your appointment. The effects will set in by the time you sit in the dentist’s chair, leaving you in a calm and relaxed state and still able to respond to questions and instructions. Intravenous sedation is administered directly into a vein when your appointment begins, resulting in a sleep-like state for the duration of your procedure.
With either of these treatments, you may have difficulty remembering your appointment afterward and will require a trusted individual to drive you home from the dentist’s office. While sedated, the dental staff will monitor your vitals to ensure your health and safety.
Dental sedation has allowed many patients to receive much-needed dental treatments. Consulting with your dentist can determine if IV or oral conscious sedation may be right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Brandon D. Rensch earned his dental degree at the Creighton University School of Dentistry and stays current with the latest developments in his field by taking continuing education courses. He is proud to serve as a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. His office in Raleigh, NC, offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as sedation dentistry. To learn more about dental sedation treatments, contact his office online or dial (919) 787-0355.