Sedation Dentistry and Sleep Dentistry

For many people, going to the dentist is a near traumatic event. Due to negative experiences as a child or other reasons, they develop a phobia that prevents them from getting the care they need. Sedation dentistry is the answer to those who suffer from dental phobia by providing an anxiety-free atmosphere where they can be relaxed and still get the care they need.

Sedation and sleep dentistry is used to create a calm state. They may be administered in the form of tranquillizers, anti-anxiety medications, nitrous oxide, depressants, and other medications. Some cosmetic dentists give sedation through an IV while others use other methods. This is a safe and effective alternative when a professional administers the IV but inhalation and other no-needle approaches are more acceptable for a lot of patients. Oral sedation is the most commonly used method today and is the easiest to use.

Sedation is not equivalent to “being put to sleep” but it does relax patients so that they don’t even remember the visit. Patients are still conscious in order to provide any needed cooperation but feel as though they slept through the entire visit. Sedation does not prevent pain and the patient will still need to have anesthesia. However, anesthesia is administered after the sedation has been used. Most patients don’t even remember the injection.

Anyone who has sedation dentistry must have someone with them to drive them home after the treatment. Someone will also need to stay with you for a couple of hours afterwards until the effects of the sedation have worn off.

Another benefit of sedation dentistry is that it gives the patient a false sense of time. Even though a procedure may take hours to perform, it will usually seem like it has only been minutes. Patients may not even realize that any time has passed or that anything has been done to their teeth.

Sedation dentistry is essential in treating those people with a dental phobia to get them the care they need. Without this option, many people would be destined for gum disease, tooth loss, and the potential for a lot of pain.

For more information about sedation dentistry as well as porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, dental implants (implant dentistry), and more, be sure to visit our Newport News, Virginia cosmetic dentistry office.