5 Signs You Might Benefit From Sedation Dentistry
Dental procedures can be quite uncomfortable for many patients, such as young children and older adults. You may be afraid of a dentist poking in your mouth with needles. That is why 60% of dental experts in Canada offer sedation dentistry services.
Getting sedated before a dental procedure can help with anxiety and prevent you from panicking. Let’s look at the top signs that indicate sedation dentistry is beneficial for you.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry involves relaxing patients during dental procedures using a sedative such as:
Nitrous oxide
Benzodiazepines for IV sedation
Ketamine for conscious sedation
Valium for oral sedation
These medicines can numb you during dental surgery to ensure you don't feel any pain. They get rid of your nervousness for a smooth procedure.
Remember, sedation dentistry can involve various types of sedation methods. For example, oral sedation involves a dentist prescribing you a tablet that you must consume a specific hours before the procedure.
Meanwhile, intravenous (IV) sedation dentistry involves administration of a sedative directly into your bloodstream. Sometimes deep sedation through general anesthesia may also be necessary.
What Is The Indication Of Oral Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry not only keeps the patient comfortable but also makes it easier for the dentist to conduct surgery. When patients panic in the procedure room, they can hinder their dental expert.
For example, you may move a lot during a dental root canal or tooth extraction. Unnecessary movements can disturb your dentist and affect their accuracy.
This is why opting for sedation dentistry is the best decision if you get nervous easily. Let’s look at the top 5 signs you might benefit from sedation dentistry:
1.You Want The Procedure To Be Done Fast
You may not have time often for dental visits due to work, house chores, and other reasons. This is why, you may want your root canal, tooth extraction, or tooth polishing procedure to be done fast.
A great way to achieve this is by opting for sedation dentistry. The sedative will keep you calm during the procedure to avoid unnecessary delays.
Your dental expert can also work more efficiently if you’re completely still and calm during the surgery.
2.You’re Highly Afraid Of Dental Procedures
A national survey has established that 9.8% of adults in Canada are afraid of getting dental treatments. About 50% of people with a high fear of procedures also miss their regular checkups.
Such individuals have a high need for oral sedation dentistry even during a minor dental procedure. A sedative such as valium will calm your nerves and clear your thoughts.
You will be less afraid of the procedure after combining oral sedation dentistry with your tooth extraction or other processes.
3.You Gag A Lot
A gag reflex is an involuntary bodily process that prevents people from choking. It can also be activated during dental procedures and may hinder the surgery.
This is especially true if you have a more sensitive gag reflex than most other patients. Oral sedation dentistry can benefit you significantly in this case.
The sedative will calm your muscle reflexes to ensure an instrument or solution in your mouth doesn't activate your gag reflex. You will feel more relaxed, while your dentist in Bridgeport can work with focus.
4.Sitting Still Is Impossible For You
Moving during a dental implant or tooth extraction has serious consequences. One movement can reduce a dentist's accuracy in injecting solutions and extracting your teeth without pain.
Oral sedation dentistry will help you stay still by slowing down your brain activity. It helps you avoid overstimulation of reflexes and nerves to reduce anxiety.
The overall result would be a relaxed state in which you’re less aware of discomfort due to the dental surgery.
5.You Have Sensitive Teeth
About 1 out of 3 Canadians have a dental need that requires proper attention. Most of these people face oral pain because of decayed teeth, gum disease, and other reasons.
The procedure to take care of the dental need can be highly painful if you have sensitive teeth. A slight touch from an instrument can cause you to suffer from discomfort.
You may even move so much because of the pain that the dentist may have to stop the procedure halfway. Oral sedation dentistry tackles these challenges by ensuring your teeth experience low sensitivity.
What Is The Indication Of IV Sedation Dentistry?
Some people benefit from oral sedation dentistry, while others require different kinds of sedatives. Let’s look at the top 5 signs you might need IV sedation dentistry:
1.You Have Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety causes many people to miss their checkups. You may start panicking about various teeth problems when entering a dentist’s office.
The procedure explanation by a dentist in Kitchener-Waterloo may also enhance your fear. For such cases of anxiety, IV sedation is the best option.
2.The Sounds In Dental Procedure Room Triggers You
Many people are not afraid of dental procedures or pain, so they don’t get dental anesthesia. However, they may suffer from panic attacks because of the whirring sounds in a dental procedure room.
You can opt for IV sedation dentistry solutions to ensure you don’t focus on the triggering sounds. The sedative will numb you and make you less aware of your surroundings for a few hours.
A dentist will be able to conduct their procedure efficiently when you’re completely relaxed.
3.You’re Undergoing A Lengthy Visit
Sometimes people miss their dental checkups for a long time and later find out they have multiple issues that must be resolved. A dentist may schedule a single visit and combine multiple procedures to restore your oral health.
IV sedation dentistry is beneficial for lengthy visits because the effects of intravenous sedatives last longer than oral sedatives. You can stay pain-free for hours with such medicines.
4.Taking A Pill Is Difficult For You
Oral sedation dentistry involves taking pills hours before the dentist's visit. By the time you reach the expert, the tablet will take effect and relax you.
Taking a pill is not an option for everyone, because some people experience gag reflex activation. You may even throw up immediately after taking the oral medicine.
Opting for IV sedation dentistry is best in such cases. The medicine will be administered through an intravenous injection directly into your bloodstream.
IV sedatives are also effective within minutes, so you can get sedated at the dentist’s office directly instead of hours before.
5.You Don’t Want To Be Awake During The Dental Procedure
The thought of staying awake during dental surgery is worrisome for many patients. You may not want to see the dentist poking with needles in your mouth.
An operating room’s smell and sounds can trigger your dental phobia further. IV sedation dentistry can help you avoid this because it is the deepest form of sedation.
The sedative will make you fall asleep during the procedure. When you wake up, you will not have any traumatic memories of the dental surgery.
FAQs
Can You Eat Before Dental Sedation?
You should avoid eating about six hours before your oral sedation. An overnight fast is recommended for patients opting for deep sedation dentistry.
How Long Do the Effects Of Deep Sedation Dentistry Last?
The effects of deep sedation dentistry last for a few hours to a day. You must tell a caretaker to pick you up after the appointment if you’ve opted for deep sedation dentistry.
How Much Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry can cost you $200 to $600 for light sedative solutions such as nitrous oxide or oral sedation. The figure may vary, depending on your sedative type.
What Are The Benefits Of Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry helps you avoid dental phobia and stay calm during a procedure. It also ensures you feel minimal pain during tooth extraction, dental implant, or other processes.
Sedation Dentistry Near Me: Contact KWC Dental Today For Bridgeport Dental Assistance
A dental procedure can be worrisome, especially if it involves you experiencing pain. You can get rid of anxiety during such processes with sedation dentistry.
Our dentist in Bridgeport has decades of experience in administering oral sedation to IV sedation. We also have a skilled anesthesiologist on our team for accurate deep sedation administration.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about sedation dentistry in Canada.