What You Need to Know About Sedation Dentistry

For some of us, a trip to the dental office is more of a traumatic experience because of fear and anxiety. Some people avoid visiting the dentist at all costs, and the only time they do so is if there is a serious dental problem. While it is understandable to have dental phobia, ignoring a regular visit to your dentist can be detrimental to your oral health.

It is recommended you get regular checkups at least twice every year. Fortunately, we offer sedation dentistry in Scarsdale, NY, that guarantees to relax and keep you calm during a dental procedure.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses medication or sedatives to relax the nerves and reduce dental phobia. This makes it easy for people who have severe anxiety to relax and go through any dental procedure. It also allows the dentist to perform even the most complex dental procedure with ease.

Dental sedation is given in various levels; ranging from mild to deep sedation.

When is Sedation Dentistry Used?

Although the use of dental sedatives can benefit everyone, the dentist can recommend sedation dentistry near you if you have:

• Severe dental phobia and anxiety make it difficult for you to get dental treatment.
• Gag reflex interferes with the procedure. The gag reflex is a reflexive occurrence that happens to prevent you from swallowing a foreign object. But, if you have a severe one, it can make it hard for the dentist to perform a procedure.
• You have a low threshold of pain
• The local anesthesia is ineffective
• The dentist is about to perform a complex dental procedure.

How Does the Dental Sedation Help?

Apart from keeping you calm and reducing your dental phobia, getting sedation dentistry near Scarsdale, NY also enables the dentist to do any procedure including oral surgery. You will not remember the procedure and as such it will reduce fear and phobia of subsequent procedures.

It is also possible for the dentist to perform a dental procedure in the fastest time possible, thus limiting your visits.

Does Dental Sedation Cause Unconsciousness?

Despite the common misconception, sedation dentistry does not cause you to sleep. We have four types of dental sedation and all give a different level of consciousness. The dentist will choose a suitable option based on the type of procedure to be done and the severity of the dental phobia.

• • Inhaled gas

Laughing gas is one of the commonly used dental sedation. It is administered a few minutes before the procedure because it takes effect immediately and wears off just as fast. It relaxes you, but you will be awake during the procedure. Laughing gas has a mild effect, and that’s why it is also used in children.

• • Oral sedation

Pill or mouth sedation is stronger than laughing gas and it involves taking a pill orally. Because we break down pills differently, the dentist will give you the pill couple of hours before the procedure. Also, since it is an oral medication, it does not give the dentist the liberty to adjust the dosage. You may drift to sleep during the treatment, but can be woken up with a gentle shake.

• • IV sedation

Intravenous sedation is given via the veins directly into the bloodstream. It does not cause you to sleep either, but you will have no recollection of the procedure. The dentist can adjust the dosage with IV sedation, and as such, it can be used during complex procedures.

• • General anesthesia

Deep or sleep sedation does cause you to get unconscious. Also, the dentist will use medication to lower the effects of the sedatives so you can wake up.

While a general dentist can give oral and inhaled sedation, IV sedation and general anesthesia are given by a licensed anesthesiologist.

What Can You Expect After?

Sedation dentistry in 10583 is safe and has very minimal side effects. You may, however, experience grogginess, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and headache as the sedatives wear out. These will clear out after some time, but if they persist, visit a dentist near Scarsdale for assistance.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Smile Scarsdale for more information on sedation dentistry and what you can expect during and after the procedure.