Sedation Dentistry

Many people experience anxiety about undergoing dental work or even visiting the dentist at all, a fear known as dental phobia. This can keep them from seeking proper dental care and may be compromising their dental health. Relief for patients with dental phobia is now available through sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry involves the use of medication to provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience for people undergoing dental treatment. Although sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry," most patients remain awake after taking sedation medication and experience a sleepy feeling. There are several different methods available to achieve varying degrees of sedation, all depending on the type of procedure and preference of the patient.

Benefits

There is a great many people who are uneasy at just the thought of undergoing dental work. Sedation allows people to gain a sense of comfort about these often complex and lengthy procedures. It may also influence some patients to undergo elective procedures that they may have been apprehensive about before. Sedation dentistry lets patients feel as though their lengthy procedures last for only a few minutes.

Sedation Dentistry can benefit you tremendously if you:

Have a high dental anxiety and fear
Have had previous bad or frightening experiences that keep you from seeking routine dental care
Have a low pain threshold
Have sensitive teeth
Can not sit still in the dentist's chair
Have a bad gag reflex
Need a large amount of dental work done

Different from Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is a way of removing the nerve stimulation from the teeth and gums during a dental procedure. Often referred to as "numbness", this is the only effective way to eliminate any pain of discomfort of a dental procedure. In a majority of cases, this is a common and valid reason for a level of sedation. Patients who elect to have their procedures performed under a controlled form of sedation will be given a local anesthetic injection after the sedation has begun to take effect. This will help reduce the fear and anxiety that often accompanies needles and injections. Although sedation will produce a relaxed state, it does not produce the same effect as anesthesia, which is used for most dental procedures. Sedation simply helps relieve the "nerves" and anxiety that often accompany seeing a dentist.

Risks

Although the risk of using sedation is low, mild side effects can occur. Some patients may experience nausea, drowsiness or lightheadedness. IV Moderate Sedation is not recommended for patients who have a blocked nasal passage, are severely obese, have a dangerously narrow oral airway, or have a severe case of obstructive sleep apnea. These are a few examples that could affect your candidacy for sedation. Conscious sedation is a very safe and effective way to control anxieties; however, it may not be for everyone due to certain health or physical conditions. Dr. Warren will discuss all risks associated with every procedure and potential risks associated with it. Because of potential side effects and the length of sedation, you must have someone that you trust to drive you home once your procedure is complete. The only exception is if Nitrous Oxide only is used because you completely recover when you are no longer breathing the gas. If nitrous oxide is used in addition to the other levels of conscious sedation, you will still need a responsible adult to take you home following your procedure.

It is important to discuss the individual risks of sedation dentistry with Dr. Warren, who can help you decide if you can benefit from this technique.

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