8 Common Questions about Sedation Dentistry Answered

For millions of people around the world, just the thought of sitting in their dentist’s chair fills them with sheer horror. So these people just keep mum on dental issues and miss out on a happy bright smile, hiding cavities and gum disease all their life long. Sedation dentistry provides the answer to such widespread dental anxiety. This form of dentistry aims to relax patients, keeping them comfortable and making the entire experience as enjoyable as possible. Here are the eight common questions that people ask about sedation dentistry answered by our Livonia dentists from PlatinumDentalCareMi.com

1. How Does Sedation Dentistry Work?

Your dentist will medicate you before or during your procedure. Varied medications are used depending on the level of sedation that’s required. The sedatives will help calm you and drive away your fears of the dental work so your dentist can work in peace.

2. What’s The Objective of Sedation Dentistry?

The following are the objectives of sedation dentistry:

• Minimizing pain and discomfort for the patient
• Help patient to control anxiety, and minimize potential for trauma or amnesia
• To control anxiety, minimize psychological trauma and maximize the potential for amnesia
• To restrict an anxious patient’s aggressive gestures that may hamper procedural safety
• To maintain a state of calm in the patient, a state in which safe discharge from medical supervision is feasible

3. Are There Different Levels Of Sedation?

Yes, the following levels of sedation are usually used by dentists:

• Mild Sedation: Patient’s cognitive functions and coordination will be supressed but patient will be able to respond to verbal commands. An open airway is maintained to facilitate breathing.
• Moderate Sedation: Consciousness is depressed, but patient is able to respond to verbal commands. Patient breathes spontaneously and it’s not necessary to maintain an open airway.
• Deep Sedation: Patients respond purposefully after repeated verbal commands but independent breathing ability might be impaired. It might be necessary to maintain an open airway.

4. Will The Patient Be Watched Continuously In The Office?

Yes, the patient has to be watched continuously to ensure proper breathing, heart rate, comfort and response to verbal commands. Someone will always be on hand to take care of emergencies or unexpected reactions.

5. How will the patient feel during and after sedation?

Patient will feel relaxed and totally unburdened during the entire procedure. After the procedure is over, the patient will be kept in the office till 100% alertness and cognitive function and coordination come back. Only then is patient discharged from the clinic.

6. Does Sedation Dentistry Involve Needles?

The mode of sedation will depend on the level of sedation you choose or as your case requires. There are four ways drugs are imbibed into the system in sedation dentistry:

• Inhaled sedation – low level sedation: In this type of sedation, a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen is given via a mask over the nose. The gas will make you feel groggy slowly and you’ll relax completely. The mask is removed after the procedure is complete and you will gradually become alert.
• Oral sedation – pill form: You’ll be given a pill to take an hour before your procedure. You will feel drowsy and go to partial sleep during the procedure, though you will respond to verbal commands.
• IV moderate sedation: In this form of sedation, a drug is administered into your blood via a vein using a needle. The effect is instantaneous; you will fall asleep immediately and wake after the procedure is over.
• Deep sedation and general anaesthesia: This process requires medications given via IV to induce total or partial unconsciousness. Deep sedation is used only for rare cases where a number of dental issues have to be targeted at the same time. It takes a little time to awaken the patients after they’ve been put under deep sedation.

7. Will The Patient Feel Anything During Sedation Dentistry?

No matter what type of sedation you’re given, you will be unable to feel anything that the dentist is doing in your oral cavity. You will be aware of things to a certain extent depending on the level of sedation but for the most part, you will not feel anything at all.

8. What Sort Of Patient Makes The Ideal Candidate For Sedation Dentistry?

Patients who demonstrate the following attributes are ideal candidates for sedation dentistry:

• Patients who have a low pain threshold
• Patients who are too scared to sit in the dentist’s chair
• Patients whose teeth are very sensitive
• Patients who suffer from bad gag reflex
• Patients who are due for a large amount of dental work to be completed

Conclusion

Mild sedation dentistry is recommended for children who may not sit quietly in the dentist’s chair, causing potential disasters with their movements. Also, this method is suitable to kids who have multiple cavities, gum disease and other serious issues.

Visit Platinum Dental Care Office in Livonia, Michigan  for more information about Sedation Dentistry or call us at 734-522-5520 to schedule your free initial consultation.