If you’re someone who worries about major or minor dental procedures, then sedation dentistry may be a good avenue for you to explore. When you opt for Supreme Dentistry’s sedation dentistry services, general dental procedures seem to go by in minutes rather than hours. Sedation dentistry addresses some of the fears that keep people from going to the dentist regularly, such as fear of pain, feeling claustrophobic, or excessive worry about unlikely complications. It’s a great way for individuals with anxiety about seeing a dentist in Houston, TX, regularly to get the routine oral care necessary to prevent serious oral health issues later on.
What Sedation Dentistry Entails
Sedation relaxes clients using carefully administered sedative drugs. Clients can expect most dentists to offer some form of sedation. It’s an excellent way to calm anxiety in adults and mute fears in children over dental procedures, whether common or specialty. Individuals who experience the following are good candidates for sedation dentistry:
- A low threshold for pain
- An inability to sit still in the dentist’s chair
- Sensitive teeth or a pronounced gag reflex
- Dental phobia or anxiety
- Medical conditions aggravated by stress such as angina, asthma, or epilepsy
Sedation is different than the local anesthetic injections you may receive to numb the area in your mouth where your Supreme Dentistry dentist will be working. Often, the two are used to raise a client’s threshold for pain allowing procedures to be performed without causing the client to worry. Unlike the local anesthetic injections clients are given with a needle, most sedation is delivered without a needle through inhalation. After receiving sedation, clients routinely don’t notice the anesthetic injections.
Regardless of the type of sedation dentistry you receive, it is important to have a responsible caregiver accompany you. Never drive after a dental procedure involving sedation; always have someone else pick you up and take you to where you need to go. Also, if you know ahead of time you will have a dental procedure done using sedation, avoid eating before the appointment. Make sure you inform your dentist about all the medications you may be taking as sometimes there are interactions between sedation drugs and medicines.
Kinds of Sedation Available
The following types of sedation are used in general and cosmetic dentistry:
- Inhaled Sedation: This is the most frequently used form of sedation and involves breathing nitrous oxide combined with oxygen through a mask placed over the client’s nose. The gas helps clients relax, putting them into a semi-conscious state. This form tends to wear off quickly, allowing patients to drive themselves home after the procedure once they have waited for a short period.
- Oral Sedation: Typically, this form of sedation entails taking a pill similar to Valium an hour or so before the procedure. Clients stay awake as they do with inhaled sedation but are semi-conscious.
- IV Sedation: This kind of sedation involves getting the sedative through one’s veins. The benefit is that the drug works more quickly. However, this is not a good option for individuals with fears of needles or without the ability to control their body enough to stay still during their procedure.
- Deep Sedation: With this kind of sedation, clients are made almost unconscious or totally unconscious to undergo their procedure. While under general anesthesia, you cannot easily be awakened until the effects wear off or are reversed with medication. This form of sedation requires clients to have someone take care of them after the procedure, as they will be too groggy to drive on their own.
You and your Supreme Dentistry dentist will discuss the different kinds of sedation available and appropriate for the procedure you are having and for your needs.
Supreme Dentistry’s General Dental Services
Regularly scheduled dental cleanings and exams reduce the risk for serious dental issues to arise. To avoid putting off seeing your dentist at Supreme Dentistry, we offer sedation dentistry services so you and your family can get the care necessary while avoiding undue anxiety.
At Supreme Dentistry, your oral health is our top priority. Reach out today at 844.966.2333 to make an appointment or schedule a consultation. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better Houston, Texas dentistry services. Chekc out these blogs to learn more about sedation dentistry: