An In-Depth Look into Sedation Dentistry

An In-Depth Look into Sedation Dentistry

Jan 01, 2021

It’s not unusual for people to be anxious about going in for their dental appointments. If anything, you will be shocked to know that millions of people globally experience this feeling whenever they have to undergo any dental treatment.

This uneasy feeling about dental visits can be associated with conditions known as dental anxiety or phobia. People suffering from dental anxiety often dread going in for any type of dental appointment. However, individuals who have dental phobia, on the other hand, experience a heightened level of fear. This fear may even be about undergoing the most straightforward dental procedures, such as routine cleaning.

Our family dentist in Weymouth has interacted with many patients who experience dental phobia or anxiety. One of the ways we can provide dental care to these patients is by using sedation dentistry techniques.

Sedation dentistry is used on patients who have dental anxiety or phobia to calm them down and ensure that they are relaxed during dental procedures.

Our dentist in Weymouth, MA, utilizes sedation dentistry for procedures ranging from routine cleanings to more invasive dental procedures like dental implant placement.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry involves using sedatives to relax and calm down patients as they undergo a dental treatment or procedure. Many forms of sedation can be utilized, and these may range from forms that help you relax to those that knock you out completely.

Different Levels of Sedation

Different standards of sedation are applied in sedation dentistry. The level of sedation utilized by our Weymouth dentist depends on the level of anxiety or phobia a patient has and the duration or complexity of the dental procedure a patient is undergoing.

These levels may include:

  • Minimal sedation – under this level of sedation, you still have full conscious awareness of your surroundings and are cognitive of everything happening during the procedure but are still in a relaxed state
  • Moderate sedation – this level of sedation is also referred to as conscious sedation. Under this sedation, you still have your conscious awareness; however, you will have very little recollection of your dental procedure
  • Deep sedation – in this level of sedation, you will be oscillating between being conscious or having what is referred to as twilight sleep. You will still be responsive during the procedure
  • General anesthesia – under this level of sedation, you will be entirely unconscious and unresponsive

Types of Anesthesia

  • Oral Sedatives

Oral sedatives can be used to elicit a minimal or moderate level of sedation, based on the dosage used. This type of anesthesia is administered in the form of pills that are taken before the dental procedure.

Oral sedatives can make you drowsy or groggy, and in some cases, patients may sleep for the entire duration of the procedure, but they can easily be woken up.

  • Inhaled Sedation

This is a type of minimal sedation. In this form of sedation, laughing gas is used to put patients in a relaxed state. You will be conscious and cognitive during the procedure. The gas is administered through a gas mask, and the sedative tends to wear off relatively quickly.

  • IV Sedation

This kind of sedation is administered intravenously, and this guarantees that it will be fast-acting. It elicits a moderate to a deep sedation level depending on the dosage of the sedative being used. The level of sedation can be regulated during your dental procedure.

  • General Anesthesia

This form of sedation causes a deep level of sedation. This means that you will be unresponsive during your procedure and have no recollection of the entire procedure. You cannot quickly wake up from this form of sedation and will need help getting home after the procedure.

You will regain consciousness after the sedative wears off or if the sedative effects are canceled using medication.

  • Instances That Call for the Use of Sedation Dentistry

Here are some instances that may call for the use of sedatives during dental procedures:

  • If you have a low pain tolerance
  • If you have a very sensitive or easily triggered gag reflex
  • If you have a dental phobia that is triggered whenever you see any dental equipment such as drills or syringes
  • If you have developed a resistance to local anesthesia
  • If you have ever undergone a traumatic dental experience
  • If you need to undergo multiple dental procedures in a single dental appointment
  • If you have special needs or suffer from any anxiety disorder

Contact us today at Weymouth Dental Associates for safe sedation dentistry procedures. We can help you get the dental care you need!

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