Last Updated on July 28, 2024 by Asfa Rasheed
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Are you afraid of the dentist?
You are not alone.
You may have had a negative personal experience at the dentist, prompting you to avoid scheduling regular dental checks or operations. Or you might have heard of someone’s bad experience. Or you might be afraid of machinery that comes near your mouth.
No matter the reason, there is no need to tremble in your shoes since sedation dentistry might improve your life.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry allows your dentist to deliver sedatives before or during dental care, allowing patients to rest while receiving treatment.
Dentists use sedatives to safely conduct services on patients, such as aesthetic dental operations or tooth extractions.
Sedation dentistry calms the patient during dental operations. Sometimes, patients have no recollection of the operations and have no fear or anxiety when in the dentist’s chair.
There are several sedation dentistry methods, including oral sedation in the form of a tablet, IV sedation, and inhaled gas, sometimes known as laughing gas or happy gas.
The operation and your level of anxiety will determine the type of sedation you receive.
Who can use sedation?
- People having dental anxiety or fear
- Patients requiring multiple operations at the same time
- To perform oral surgery
Depending on your required dental treatment, a local anaesthetic can be paired with a sedative approach. On the contrary, some dental treatments like braces or dental veneers do not require sedation unless the patient is extremely anxious and cannot sit in a chair.
How can sedation dentistry help patients?
- Makes the treatment journey comfortable
Sensitive gums or teeth might result in a dreadful dentist visit for some. However, sedation dentistry can give you the most relaxing dental visit imaginable.
You will be drugged just enough so you are oblivious to your condition. You will wake up feeling refreshed and with little to no recollection of your treatment.
Also read: Guide To Root Canal Treatment: Everything You Need To Know
- Anxiety relief
One of the most beneficial advantages of sedation dentistry is that it alleviates anxiety in some of the most anxious patients.
While some patients have very little pre-procedure anxiety, others become entirely overcome with the dread that an oral operation becomes disastrous. As a result, the more worried a patient is before the treatment, the more s/he will benefit from sedation dentistry.
- Faster and better treatment
Gag reflexes during treatment might be difficult for the dentist to manage.
When you are comfortable after sedation and do not feel any discomfort, you do not oppose the dentist in any way and let them do their best.
This leads to faster and more effective therapies. As a consequence, you will need fewer appointments!
The final thought!
So, if you have been putting off much-needed dental care because you are afraid, you are probably an excellent candidate for sedation dentistry.
However, as there are various types of sedation dentistry, you need to contact your dentist to find the best option. Also, an expert should carry out sedation dentistry, so select your dentist properly.