How Does Sedation Dentistry Work?
Dental procedures are critical, having that they are performed in very tight and small quarters. The expertise of a dentist relies on his ability to perform procedures with utmost precision. For this to happen, there is no room for phobias and dental anxieties.
Unfortunately, many patients have phobias embedded in their brains due to previous traumatic experiences. These fears can make it hard for you to stay still as dental procedures are being performed on you. For such reasons as this, sedation dentistry is employed in the performance of different oral treatments.
What Is Sedation in Dentistry?
It is the process of using medication to sedate a patient prior to a dental procedure. It involves using different types of sedative medication to help a patient relax and be comfortable during treatments. Sedation is employed mostly for invasive surgical procedures, but can also be employed for non-invasive processes.
A dentist cannot employ sedation unless he or she deems it fit and necessary for the procedure you are about to have. It is also paramount that the type of sedation and the level thereof be appropriately used for different dental procedures.
How Sedation Dentistry Works
The idea of sedation dentistry relies on the use of different medications to make sure your brain and body are conditioned to be restful and comfortable. The sedating agents used differ, based on the desired outcome that a sedation dentist in Westminster is looking for, for a particular patient.
The initial step involves determining the right sedative to use. As there are different types, the one picked will provide the right conditions for the procedure you are about to undergo. After this determination, the level of sedation is also predetermined. This will help ascertain the concentration of the sedative you need in your system, in readiness for your procedure.
The number one aspect of sedation dentistry is to alleviate pain and increase comfort. Therefore, the sedation agents will numb your mouth. This will render you comfortable, with no feelings of pain at the site of work in your mouth. Without pain, it is hard to concentrate on the probability of dental treatment going south. This allows you to remain positive and stay still as your dentist works on your mouth.
Sedating agents work by conditioning your mind and body for comfort and relaxation. They create feelings of euphoria, ensuring that you associate the dental procedures with happy memories. Aside from that sedation dentistry in Westminster CO helps calm the nerves, treating dental anxiety and phobias you may have regarding dental treatments.
Another important aspect of sedation in Fox Creek Dental by Espire is that the sedative medication can make you unconscious. This is a necessary outcome for long and rather invasive procedures that may otherwise leave traumatic memories for you. In such cases, you are asleep as your treatment continues.
Type of Sedation Agents in Dentistry
There are primarily 4 types of sedation used:
- Oral sedation – involves using sedating pills. The attending dentist will give you one or more pills to swallow, usually an hour or so before your dental procedure. This type of sedation is used for either mild or moderate sedation.
- Inhaled sedation – it capitalizes on the breathing in of laughing gas through a face mask. The gas is allowed into your system, along with oxygen, at different concentrations. It is the best kind of sedative for mild sedation, as the levels of the laughing gas can be controlled as you go. It also wears off quickly, working best for simple dental treatments.
- IV sedation – it involves delivering the sedative medication directly into your bloodstream through the veins. An injection helps achieve this. It makes for the fastest type of sedation, which is very useful for dental emergencies. Although the levels of the sedative can be controlled, this type of sedation works best as moderate sedation.
General anesthesia – it is the deepest and level of sedation. You are put into a deep sleep for your treatment, often surgical ones. The deep sleep is so much so that you cannot be woken up unless the effects of the medication wear out. Usually, this is accomplished by administering another medication to counter the effects of the general anesthesia.