The Role of Sedation in Dentistry

Sedation in medicine is not a foreign concept. If anything, most of the complex medical procedures, particularly surgical ones, have sedation to thank for great success.

Dentistry us one of the areas of medicine where sedation is a big deal. Even while most dental procedures are not as complex as other medical surgeries, there is a need to employ sedation in dentistry. Read on to learn more about the place of sedation in dental care.

What is Sedation?

It is the use of particular medication to induce sleep and relaxation in patients before their procedures. In dentistry, there is an entire specialty dedicated to this purpose that is, sedation dentistry.

It is not every day that you visit a dentist in Huntington Beach that you hear about sedation. Most dental procedures are simple, including deep cleans and teeth whitening. However, general dentistry services in Huntington Beach go beyond simple procedures. Sometimes patients require invasive intervention for proper treatment of their oral problem. This is where sedation comes in handy.

How Is Sedation Important In Dental Works?

Sedation is not a medication you take to supplement the nutrients in your body or for the fun of it. Sedatives are given only in need basis, which happens a lot during dental procedures. Some of the primary uses of sedatives are:

1. To numb the mouth – the area of works will be under invasion, which can prove very painful and uncomfortable for a patient to sit through. Sedatives numb your mouth to the pain, making your experience that much more comfortable.
2. To conquer anxiety – anxiety in medicine is not a new concept, and that goes for dentistry too. Dental anxiety is the reason why most people hold back from experiencing excellent dental care from dentists. If you have such anxiety, the only time you visit a dentist is when you have a dental problem that needs to be addressed. Dental experts employ sedation dentistry to help conquer anxiety, drawing more patients to seek better dental care services.

Different Types Of Sedation

The one big difference in the sedative medication used in dentistry is the levels thereof. Some sedatives are used for mild and moderate sedation, while others are used for deep sleep sedation. The levels can be adjusted accordingly, depending on the type of sedation used. The common types are:

1. Oral sedation – involves taking medication orally, which sedates you slowly. Ideally, your dentist will give you a pill or tow to swallow, several minutes before your procedure. The number of pills you take will be the prescription that determines whether the level of sedation will be minor and mild or moderate.
2. Inhaled sedation – a gas mask is placed over your face before your procedure begins. The mask is the outlet for a gas commonly known as laughing gas. The gas can be controlled to adjust the level of sedation from mild to moderate.
3. IV sedation – this is a faster way of administering the sedating medication in your system. Ideally, the dentist will get the medication flowing in your bloodstream immediately by injecting it through your veins. It is not only a fast way of administering sedatives, but also comes in handy during dental emergencies.
4. General anesthesia – this is a deep form of sedation, where the patient remains in a deep sleep throughout the treatment. It is used inky in need basis, which is usually when performing surgical procedures. This intense level of sedation is also only used for long dental works. The deep sleep allows the dentist to work on your mouth for a long period without you interrupting.

Are There Benefits To Sedation?

As a patient, it is not enough to know about the types of sedatives. It helps to know whether or not the sedatives are beneficial for you. The following advantages are linked to sedation dentistry:

1. Overcoming dental anxiety – the fright that comes with painful past experiences in dentistry can hinder you from enjoying excellent oral health. You can say goodbye to all the anxiety with the help of sedation.
2. Increasing comfort by alleviating pain – you will barely feel a thing, even with invasive dental procedures.
3. Increasing effectiveness – dental experts are proficient in what they do, which is why they do it in the first place. However, unless you are sited still on the dentist’s chair, it is very hard to accomplish anything with as much precision as is needed.

Allows for long invasive procedures – it is not easy to keep your mouth open for long hours without soreness.