Sedation Dentistry

Scared to go to the dentist despite the fact that your toothache is killing you? Well, you’re not alone. According to data from the American Dental Association, 22% of respondents in a survey said they were afraid of the dentist! If one in five people have this fear, then it’s a real problem. The solution? Sedation Dentistry.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sometimes erroneously called Sleep Dentistry, Sedation Dentistry is the practice of using medication to relax the patient during dental procedures. Many of us tend to delay our dental checkups and even minor dental problems because we’re afraid to get into the dental chair. Rather than making matters worse by delaying important dental treatment, why not learn more about sedation dentistry so you can talk to your dentist about it during your next visit? Knowledge empowers and emboldens you, so let’s learn more about how sedation dentistry can help in a number of ways.

Levels of Sedation Dentistry

There are four levels of sedation used in this field:

Minimal – The patient is relaxed but awake

Moderate – The patient may not remember much of the procedure and their speech may be slurred for a while. This was also called Conscious Sedation in the past.

Deep – The patient is in a deep state of relaxation but can be awakened if necessary.

General Anesthesia – The patient is unconscious in this type of sedation dentistry, and this is only used when absolutely required.

Types of Sedation Dentistry – What Drugs are Used?

Inhaled Sedation (Minimal) – Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas is used along with oxygen. This helps you stay relaxed during the procedure but the gas wears off quickly and you can even drive yourself back home.

Oral Sedation (Minimal to Moderate) – In this instance, Valium or Halcion are used in specific dosages to control the level of sedation. You’ll still be awake but the level of sedation can be minimal to moderate. You may fall asleep during the procedure but you can be awakened easily by being shaken gently.

Intravenous Sedation (Moderate) – The sedative is directly injected into your vein, allowing the dentist to control the level of sedation at all times.

General Anesthesia (Deep Sedation) – This type of sedation involves putting you to sleep completely or keeping you in a deep state of sedation but still conscious. The anesthesia needs to wear off or be reversed with other medications for you to completely awaken from this procedure.

A local anesthetic is invariably used alongside sedation, and this numbs the area where the dentist is working inside your mouth. The purpose is to relieve pain rather than anxiety, which is what sedation does.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Anesthesia of any kind has associated risks. However, the best sedation dentists in Pondicherry with the right qualifications and training can greatly reduce those risks because of their knowledge and experience. Millions of people undergo sedation dentistry every year, but it’s also wise to prepare yourself and learn a few things before approaching your dentist. Here are some important considerations:

• Make sure your dentist is thorough with your medical history
• Learn about the appropriate FDA-recommended dose for your age, weight, and state of health
• Find out how experienced the dentist is with sedation dentistry
• Understand the risks
• The dentist should have the right equipment, such as artificial ventilation, drugs to reverse the sedative’s effect, etc.