Sedation Dentistry: Is it Important?

Sedation dentistry offers a relaxing, stress-free experience for individuals who fear going to the dentist or those undergoing extensive, complex dental procedures. Avoiding the necessary dental procedures can be detrimental to your oral health. At Silicon Valley Dental Care in California, we provide sedation techniques and can help determine the right technique for you.

Sedation dentistry can help in various ways, including:

Dental anxiety and phobia affect about sixty percent of people around the world. The reasons may include an unfounded fear or a previous unpleasant experience. The chief benefit of dental sedation is that it can help calm you before, during, and after your procedure. Sedation helps put you at ease so that you can receive treatment. 

Sedation techniques help to keep you comfortable and relaxed during extensive and lengthy procedures. The very thought of pain can make you apprehensive. People with low thresholds to pain, sensitive gag reflexes, and sensitive teeth can also opt for dental sedation. And a relaxed mind will help reduce your overall discomfort during any dental procedure.

Sedation dentistry is a safe exercise with marginal side effects when administered by trained professionals. Most dentists have training on how to oversee nitrous oxide gas sedation. However, dental providers require additional training to administer oral and IV sedation. And this means you will be in good hands with a competent, trained, and trusted professional. 

Based on the sedation dentistry method you choose, your recovery time can be relatively quick. Nitrous oxide gas will wear off around two minutes after you stop inhaling it. But the effects of oral and IV sedation require more time to wear off fully. However, you should feel better after a good night’s sleep. 

The type of sedation you will require depends on your anxiety, fears, and the kind of procedure you will need to undergo. Fortunately, there are several options for you to choose from, including:

Nitrous oxide is the most common type of dental sedation. Before the procedure, we will place a mask over the nose and ask the patient to inhale it. Laughing gas works quickly, calming the patient, reducing anxiety, and increasing pain tolerance. It also wears off quickly.

Oral sedation involves taking a prescribed drug before a procedure to help reduce anxiety. Patients usually take medicine an hour before treatment so that they are relatively calm. They are fully awake and responsive during treatment but a little tired. 

Intravenous (IV) sedation helps further ease anxiety and discomfort. The medication acts rapidly as it enters the bloodstream. Under IV sedation, patients will still be conscious but much less aware of the treatment.