Sedation dentistry is often seen as something that’s used for patients with dental anxiety. And while this is true, there are many other types of patients that can benefit from sedation dentistry. Dr. Uttma Dham of Westside Dental Center, a dentist in Plantation, FL, discusses sedation dentistry and how you may be able to benefit.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses medication to help a patient stay relaxed and calm throughout a dental procedure. We want to make sure our patients are able to have the best experience possible when they’re in our office. Westside Dental Center offers both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation options.
Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas. It’s administered through a nasal mask throughout your procedure. It both takes effect and wears off quickly, allowing you to drive yourself to and from your appointment. It’ll keep you relaxed and almost euphoric throughout the procedure, but you’ll be alert enough to answer any questions the dentist has.
Oral conscious sedation is given in the form of a prescribed pill that you take before you come in for your procedure. It’s a heavier sedation that takes longer to wear off, so you’ll need a ride to and from your appointment. Though oral sedation isn’t designed to put you to sleep, you may be so relaxed that you fall asleep or find you don’t remember parts of the procedure.
The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
It is true that sedation dentistry is particularly used for patients that suffer from dental fear and anxiety. Dental anxiety can occur on a spectrum. Some patients may only be triggered by specific tools or sounds, while it can be completely debilitating for others. It may cause people to skip their regular dental appointments, leading to a need for intensive restorative dentistry procedures.
Sedation helps patients with anxiety both come in for their regular dental care and get these more intensive procedures to help their oral health. Dr. Dham may be able to get multiple procedures done in one session, eliminating the need for multiple more trips to the office. Regular care can be performed to avoid the need for further treatments in the future.
Sedation can also be beneficial for children or patients that suffer from a movement disorder. These patients may be unable to sit still for the length of the procedure that needs to be performed. This can lead to a danger of them getting harmed because of involuntary movement during a procedure. Sedation helps to relax these movements, eliminating these risks.
When you have a bad gag reflex, it’s basically fighting the dentist the entire time they’re trying to help you. It’s uncomfortable for the patient and it makes getting work done difficult for the dentist. Sedation can help relax this reflex, making dental work more comfortable for both patient and dentist.
Sedation at Your Plantation, Florida Dentist
Do you think you’re one of the patients that could benefit from sedation dentistry? Call us or schedule an appointment online.