ASK YOUR DENTIST TO SEDATE YOU
… YOU'LL BE
GLAD YOU DID!
If you are looking into having a major dental procedure performed but are worried your anxieties may get the best of you …
… you should definitely bring up the option of sedation with your dentist.
Sedated dentistry offers a variety of benefits for both the patient and the dentist.
Sedated dentistry offers a variety of benefits for both the patient and the dentist. These include:
An elevated level of tranquil relaxation and comfort in the patient. 1
This extends to the sensation of pain that would
likely flare up during an intricate procedure like a
root canal.
This can also be a great option for patients
coping with sensitive teeth.
A sharp decrease in the chance of involuntary movements that may increase the time that your dentist spends working on your teeth and gums. 2
Suppression of the gag reflex. 3
Some procedures require a dental technician to reach
far back into the mouth and cause the gag reflex to
flare up, sending caustic acid to fly out of the mouth
along with the patient's stomach contents.
Impaired memory of the event. 4
Patients with a phobia of the dentist, drills, or other
common elements of the dental profession may appreciate
having little to no recollection of the procedures.
Fewer visits for an intensive procedure. 5
A relaxed patient gives the dentist more
time to work on that patient's mouth
over the span of the appointment.
The more work that a dentist does on a
patient's mouth, the fewer additional
appointments will be required of that patient.
Patients curious about the sorts of approaches involved in sedative dentistry should know that there are several techniques:
Ingested treatments; commonly Halcion, a pill related
to the drug Valium.
Suppositories.
Gas; commonly nitrous oxide, also known as
"laughing gas."
Injection treatments.
Injection treatments afford the
dentist a greater level of control
over dosage and can go to work
far more quickly than a treatment
like Halcion.
In addition to their approach,
dentists can control how deep the
sedation takes hold.
This can vary from a mild state of
relaxation and full consciousness,
to a slightly deeper level that
tends to result in slurred speech
and spotty awareness …
… to a deep level of sedation that
brings the patient to the border of
unconsciousness to a general
anesthetic that leaves the patient
temporarily unconscious.
The skill involved in administering
deep levels of sedation means
that most dentists properly
trained in it are specialized in
surgery or dental anesthesiology.
All sedative dentistry involves an anesthetic,
typically a localized drug administered
around wherever the procedure will focus.
Other safeguards and qualifiers for sedated
dentistry include:
The dentist should be familiar with
your medical history in order to see if
there could be any complications
with certain sedatives.
Ask what level of dosage you will
receive and if that dosage falls
within FDA regulations.
Look into your dentist's training and
track record with sedative dentistry.
You should receive a form that
covers the risks of the procedure; go
over it with your dentist and feel free
to ask questions.
Your dentist should have oxygen,
countermeasures to the sedative
and a way to regularly monitor your
vitals during the procedure.
If you are seeking professional dental advice,
it's time to call Shumway Dental Care.
Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions,
examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be
done to get you back to normal.
Call today for an appointment.
Visit http://www.mychandlerdentists.com/