Dental anxiety affects children and adults alike. Usually, this fear of dental visits stems from the thought of being in pain once in the dental chair. Additionally, the thought of dental instruments such as dental drills, dental syringes, excavating spoons, and more will compound this anxiety. If you do not overcome this dental anxiety, you probably tend to avoid visiting a dentist altogether, which will progressively harm your oral health since you are not seeking preventive maintenance from a professional.
Fortunately, you have the option of sedation dentistry. As suggested by the name, this refers to being under anesthesia when undergoing treatments at the dental office. Below are answers to some of the questions some patients repeatedly ask regarding sedation dentistry.
How is the sedative administered?
If you are already anxious about being injected during your dental procedure, you could be reluctant to have the sedative administered intravenously. But while an IV injection is the most common way to administer the sedative, your dentist could offer you alternative solutions such as breathing in nitrous oxide gas or taking a pill. Depending on the type of sedative administered, you could be unconscious during the dental procedure or fully conscious but in a highly relaxed state.
Does every patient qualify for sedation dentistry?
The biggest selling point of sedation dentistry is that it is viable for a majority of adults. Nonetheless, there are a few things to note when it comes to eligibility. To begin with, children, generally will not qualify for sedation dentistry. If you have a kid that is incredibly terrified of going to the dentist, you should consider taking them to a pediatric dentist who will determine how best to put them at ease before a dental procedure.
Secondly, individuals that are allergic to any of the drugs that could be present in the anesthetic will not qualify for sedation dentistry. It is always best to provide your dentist with your medical records so that they can be aware of any underlying conditions, allergies, and more before undergoing sedation dentistry.
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Certainly, some people are aware that going under anesthesia poses a few risks. Nonetheless, three are several measures that a sedation dentist will take to ensure you are at minimal threat. For starters, the sedation dentist will take a thorough medical history before the procedure and this will include medications you are presently taking, chronic illnesses, and so on.
Moreover, by taking your vital measurements such as your weight, height, heart rate, respiratory function, and more, the sedation dentist will be able to tell if you are physically a good candidate for the sedative. Lastly, your weight and height will ensure the best dosage to suit your body.
Share26 January 2022
I have always brushed and flossed my teeth daily, but I still had the occasional cavity when I visited the dentist for a check-up. He told me it was normal to have a cavity on occasion and that I shouldn't let it stress me out too much. Well, I am not one to just accept any problem I am having, so I started looking into how to improve my oral hygiene even more. I had always thought mouthwash was just to improve your breath, but I found some that said they helped keep cavities away. I started using one every day before bed. I haven't had a cavity in two years now, and I think the mouth rinse is the reason! I created this blog to remind other people that even if they brush and floss regularly, they can always find ways to take even better care of their teeth.
