Sedation Dentistry
When it comes to visiting the dentist, most people try to find excuses to get out of their appointment. For many reasons, several people have a fear of the dentist. If you find that even the thought of visiting the dentist causes an anxiety attack, sedation dentistry in Utah might be the ideal solution. Scheduling a regular visit is important to your oral health. Without routine visits, you could end up dealing with serious oral health issues. Gum disease and abscess teeth are situations that require professional treatment. Without the right treatment, a simple cavity could cause serious problems. You could end up dealing with a painful root canal. Visiting the dentist at least twice per year can help to detect and prevent serious problems. Here is how sleep, or sedation dentistry works:
- Sedation dentistry uses medication to help a dental patient relax before and during any dental procedure. Sedation can be used for dental procedures or even for routine dental exams and cleanings. There are different levels of sedation. Minimal sedation simply means the patient is relaxed but still awake. Moderate sedation involves a different type of medication that may make it so you don’t remember the dental appointment at all. Deep sedation allows for the patient to be awakened but during the procedure they are just at the edge of consciousness. For more extensive procedures or for patients with extreme anxieties, in rare occasions dental work can be performed under general anesthesia when the patient is completely unconscious.
- Sedation medication can be given in many different ways. There are two most common ways that sedation dentistry is administered. The first is through gas. Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas is the most common mild form or sedation used in dentistry. Patients young and old can use laughing gas to help calm their nerves before a procedure. Laughing gas will wear off quickly as soon as it is no longer being administered. The second most common form of sedation is through oral medication. Patients with anxieties can take this oral medication before their visit and feel more relaxed throughout the procedures. When taking oral sedation it important that the patient does not attempt to drive themselves to and from their appointment. IV sedation and deep sedation is used when longer procedures are going to be performed and when sedation levels need to be monitored and adjusted throughout the procedure.
The decision whether or not to use sedation during dentistry is a personal one. For many people the simple addition of laughing gas can help to relax them and alleviate nervousness or fear. For others the idea of using sedation means losing control of their senses and their surroundings. The choice to use sedation during your dental visits is an entirely personal one. If you find that you experience anxiety when you are faced with having dental work done, you should consider talking to your dentist about the different options that include sedation and the pros and cons of each. If sedation dentistry allows you to have a more successful dental visit and keep routine appointments for better oral health, it’s an important option to consider for your overall oral health. There is no need to face fear or anxiety when visiting the dentist, allow them to assist you in relaxing with the use sedation dentistry in Brigham City, Utah.
