Sedation dentistry is often considered a solution for patients that suffer from dental fear. But sedation dentistry can actually help many other kinds of patients as well. Premier Dental Care and Implant Centers, Palmdale and Lancaster, CA dentist offices, discuss the benefits and types of patients that sedation dentistry can help.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry utilizes medication to keep patients calm throughout their dental procedures. There are multiple types of sedation. First is nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. It’s breathed through the nose and both take effect and dissipate quickly.
It keeps you relaxed, but still alert and able to answer any questions the dentist may have. You can drive yourself to and from your appointment with nitrous oxide sedation.
Oral conscious sedation is the next step up. It comes in the form of a prescribed pill that’s taken an hour or so before your appointment. It takes longer to wear off, so you’ll need a ride to and from your appointment. While oral sedation isn’t designed to completely put you to sleep, you may fall asleep or not remember chunks of your procedure.
Last is IV sedation. This is typically reserved for severe cases of dental anxiety or extensive procedures like wisdom teeth removal. The medication is administered to your bloodstream through an IV and takes effect immediately. It’s designed to keep you asleep throughout your entire procedure.
Who Benefits From Sedation Dentistry?
As we mentioned, sedation dentistry is typically used for patients that suffer from dental anxiety. Fear of the dentist occurs in many patients and has a variety of levels. It can cause people to completely avoid regular dental care. This causes more severe dental problems down the road, as it’s easiest to treat issues the earlier they’re discovered.
Sedation allows patients with dental fear to actually come to the dentist regularly to get care. If you have more extensive dental problems that need to be treated due to avoiding regular care, that can be done with sedation as well. For anyone that needs more extensive or multiple procedures in one session, sedation helps to get that accomplished.
Patients that are younger or suffer from movement disorders, sedation can help them get the care they need. Involuntary movements can risk putting the patient in danger during a complex procedure. Sedation can keep them still throughout the procedure so that they can get the care they need safely.
Lastly, sedation benefits those that have a bad gag reflex. When someone has a harsher gag reflex, it’s basically fighting the dentist as they try to perform their job. It can also make the procedure very uncomfortable for the patient. Sedation relaxes the patient and allows both dentist and patient to have an easier go of it.
Your Sedation Dentist in Palmdale and Lancaster, California
Do you think you can benefit from sedation dentistry? Call us or schedule an appointment at either our Palmdale or Lancaster location.