Sedation Dentistry - Everything You Need To Know!

Dental anxiety is the feeling of uneasiness or fears a patient has before, during, or after a visit to their dentist. Dental anxiety can be due to previous bad experiences, a history of severe dental work, or the fear of pain. Dental anxiety can cause a patient to skip dental visits, avoid necessary dental treatment, or ask for a general anesthetic. Such patients can benefit from sedation dentistry.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses medication to relax and calm a patient, making it possible to receive a number of dental procedures in one appointment.

There are three types of sedation available:

• Local anesthesia:This type of sedation is typically used for minor procedures, and the medication is injected near the site of treatment. Local anesthesia is typically used for procedures such as fillings, crowns, extractions, and root canals.
• Nitrous oxide: Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is inhaled through a mask. It is often used for procedures such as cleanings, fillings, and extractions. With nitrous oxide sedation, you'll feel light-headed and a bit euphoric. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly, so you can drive yourself home after the procedure.
• Oral sedation:Oral sedation involves medication taken orally prior to treatment. Oral sedation may be used in combination with nitrous oxide. Oral sedation may be recommended for procedures such as fillings, crowns, root canals, and extractions. The pill will make you drowsy. You'll wake up feeling groggy but should be able to go home once the effects of the medication wear off.
• IV sedation.IV sedation is administered intravenously. A trained dental team monitors your heart rate and vital signs during the procedure to ensure your safety. You may sleep through the entire procedure and wake up feeling groggy but will be able to go home once the effects of the medication wear off.

Sedation dentistry is beneficial for patients who are unable to tolerate dental treatment due to fear or anxiety.

Who Can Benefit From Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry helps patients who suffer from dental anxiety. These types of patients may feel panicky in the chair, which can make it hard to receive care. With sedation, they can relax and get the care they need. It can benefit patients who have a strong gag reflex. Patients with a gag reflex may have a hard time undergoing oral procedures. With sedation, the gag reflex is decreased, which means the patient can receive the care they need. Patients with difficulty getting numb, those who can't sit still in the dental chair for a long time, etc., can also benefit from sedation dentistry. 

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Many people are also afraid of the dentist due to what they perceive as discomfort during the dental procedure. This leads them to delay or even miss dental appointments entirely, which is detrimental to their oral health. Sedation dentistry can help people overcome their fears and receive the dental treatment they need.

To learn more, call us at 503 2334871 or visit our website for more details. We are located at 1415 SE Ankeny St, Portland, OR 97214.