People suffering from dental anxiety and fear tend to quake in their boots at the thought of visiting the dentist. They prefer enduring the agony associated with dental problems in getting the issues resolved. If you are one of these people, sedation dentistry is your holy grail.
Sedation dentistry uses pharmacological agents or sedatives to relieve patients of their dental anxiety and fear. The sedatives depress the central nervous system's areas concerned with conscious awareness and calm down patients by relaxing them. Sedation dentistry is appropriate for people who:
- Suffer from dental anxiety and fear.
- Are sensitive towards feeling pain and have a low pain threshold.
- Are restless in the dentist's chair and cannot sit still.
- Have sensitive teeth and gums.
- Have a bad gag reflex.
- Need invasive dental procedures e.g. oral surgeries.
Sedatives have various degrees of central nervous system depression, each corresponding to a level of relaxation which ranges from minimal, moderate, to deep relaxation.
- Minimal sedation: It is for patients with reduced anxiety. Minimal sedation relaxes patients but keeps them awake and they can respond to verbal and physical stimulation.
- Moderate sedation or conscious sedation: It relaxes patients even more and they tend to slur words while speaking during the procedure. Patients on moderate sedation respond to only purposeful stimulation.
- Deep sedation: It takes the patients to the edge of consciousness and they do not respond to stimulation. However, they may be awakened.
- General anesthesia: It makes the patient completely unconsciousness during the procedure.
What are the different options available under sedation dentistry?
1. Inhaled minimal sedation
Patients are made to breathe a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide -also known as laughing gas- through a nasal mask. Nitrous oxide relaxes patients and calms them down before and during dental procedures. After the procedure, the effects of the gas wear away quickly and patients can resume their regular lifestyle immediately.
2. Oral sedation
Oral sedation is given in the form of a pill that a patient consumes just an hour before their dental procedure. The pill makes them drowsy and they lose consciousness. Oral sedatives are used for minimal to moderate sedation.
3. IV moderate sedation
IV moderate sedation is administered through a vein and works really quickly. This method allows the dentist to continually adjust the level of sedation.
4. General anesthesia
General anesthesia is used for deep sedation or to put the patient into a deep sleep during dental procedures. It is administered when patients undergo oral surgeries and other invasive dental procedures.
At Ayoub Dental we employ the practices of modern dentistry to systematically repair damage and enhance the appearance of your smile. We design a custom plan for each patient to meet their individual requirements. For further doubts and queries, book an appointment with us or visit our office today.
