Whether you’ve had a bad experience with a dentist or you just naturally get anxious when visiting the dentist, you may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry. This has become a popular way for dental patients to get the care they need without experiencing the stress that can come with the visits. Dr. Steven H. Hewett, D.D.S. in Champions Gate, FL offers this service, along with numerous other dental treatments to give you the healthy mouth you deserve.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Dentistry sedation is a form of dental care that, through the use of oral or inhaled sedatives, aims to relieve the anxiety and fear that are often present in patients who have either had a negative experience at a dentist’s office or have never been to a dentist because they have heard horror stories about the pain involved. Removing anxiety and fear from the equation can make visits to the dentist not only tolerable but even pleasant.
Benefits of Sedation in Dentistry
Injection Free
A main reason why minimal dentistry sedation is popular among patients with anxiety about visiting the dentist is because it doesn’t require an injection. Most sedatives used at the dental office are oral, which removes the stress involved with getting an injection in the mouth. This is a prime reason why people avoid going to the dentist, so when that fear is removed, visits to the dentist become much more tolerable, especially for those who’ve had a prior negative experience.
Pain-Free
Along with injections, pain is another main deterrent for people who avoid the dentist. In fact, some people would rather endure the pain of an infected tooth than go to the dentist to get it fixed. The fear of pain is real, but with oral sedatives, you won’t feel any pain associated with the dental treatments you receive. Some patients even report that they’re unable to remember the actual treatment during the time they were sedated.
It’s important to note that you aren’t actually under anesthesia when you’ve used an oral sedative. You’re just extremely relaxed to the point where fear and pain don’t affect you. While dentistry with sedation is sometimes called “sleep dentistry,” this is not an accurate name because you are not given general anesthesia to make you sleep. However, many patients do actually fall asleep during their dental treatment, even when only minimally sedated, simply because their bodies are extremely relaxed.
Safer, Quicker Treatments
One excellent benefit of sedation in dentistry is that it results in safer and quicker treatments and procedures. It’s critical that patients remain still and compliant during treatment so we’re able to perform the tasks we need to do. If you’re fearful or anxious, you might have difficulty staying still or complying with our necessary instructions, which can cause an unsafe situation. Moreover, when patients are able to comply with our instructions, their treatments can be completed more quickly.
Time Passes Quickly
When you’ve been sedated for dental treatment or procedure, you’ll become so relaxed that your perception of time changes. A treatment or procedure that takes several hours will only feel like minutes to you. Even if you don’t fall asleep, you’ll still be less aware of what is happening around you, which makes time seem to pass more quickly. This is a great advantage because you won’t feel like you’ve sat through hours of dental procedures.
Allows For More Regular Visits
People who opt for minimal sedation during dental procedures and treatments are more likely to return for regular visits because they know their experience will be as pleasant as possible. They know they won’t be in pain and that the appointment will pass quickly while they are calm and relaxed. This means these patients will have fewer major dental problems down the road because they’re getting their teeth examined more frequently.
Types of Sedation Used in Dentistry
Even though most sedatives used in our office are oral, we do have a variety of options to meet your needs. While minimal sedation is appropriate for some patients, others may need moderate sedation or even deep sedation. It also depends on the treatment or procedure you’re having as to which type of sedation is right for your circumstances. We will discuss the sedation that is appropriate for you during your initial consultation and examination.
In addition to these types of sedation, you’ll also receive a local anesthetic for certain dental procedures, including root canals, scaling and planing, and tooth extraction, among others. This anesthetic is given in the mouth by injection at the treatment site but will be done after you receive your sedative, so you won’t feel any pain from either the injection or the treatment.
Minimal Inhaled Sedation
This type of sedation has been available in dentists’ offices for decades. Often referred to as “laughing gas,” inhaled minimal sedation involves inhaling nitrous oxide and oxygen through a mask placed over your nose and mouth. Nitrous oxide has sedative properties that make you relax, and the dentist can control how much you receive based on how you feel and your vital signs, which are monitored throughout the treatment. Inhaled sedation is popular because it wears off quickly.
Minimal or Moderate Oral Sedation
Depending on the type of oral medication and dose you’re given, oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, you’ll take a pill about an hour before your treatment, which gives your body time to relax. You may also feel drowsy, even though it’s not designed to make you fall asleep. A larger dose provides more sedative effects, is considered moderate sedation, and will likely result in you not being able to remember much of the treatment.
Oral sedation is the type that is most commonly associated with sedation in dentistry, and even if you fall asleep during the treatment, you can be awakened with a gentle shake. When choosing this type of sedation, you are required to have a responsible adult drive you to and from the office because the effects of the oral medication will still impact your body for several hours after the treatment has been completed, making it dangerous for you to drive.
Moderate IV Sedation
This type of sedation is rare in dentistry, but it can be used if a patient needs to relax quickly. Since the sedative enters your bloodstream through the IV, it works much faster than oral sedatives. IV sedatives can be controlled by the dentist during the treatment to make sure you’re comfortable for the entire time. This sedation also requires you to have an adult drive you to and from your appointment for safety reasons.
Deep Sedation (General Anesthesia)
In most cases, you will not receive deep sedation medications for a standard dental treatment or procedure. In fact, this type of sedation is not usually available in a clinical setting; you’re required to be in a hospital or surgical center to receive general anesthesia. This is because the risks are higher with medication that puts you to sleep for the duration of the procedure and you have to be awakened by medication to reverse the effects of the sedative.
Patient Monitoring
We take our patients’ safety very seriously, and as such, we provide patient monitoring equipment for all patients who choose to be sedated during a dental treatment or procedure. Oxygen, a pulse oximeter, and reversal agents are used to ensure patients remain completely safe throughout their visit. Your oxygen level will be constantly monitored to ensure your vitals remain stable the entire time. With inhaled or IV sedation, your level of sedation will also be monitored and adjusted as necessary.
Candidates for Sedation in Dentistry
Anyone who has fear or anxiety that’s preventing them from visiting the dentist can be a candidate for sedation dentistry. Even if you don’t particularly fear the dentist, your body may still become tense when you actually sit in the chair. Minimal sedation is completely safe and can make a stressful situation more pleasant for everyone. You can also listen to music through headphones, sit in a massage chair, and have a blanket or warm towel to relax even more.
You might also be a good candidate for sedation during dental treatments if you have any of the following circumstances.
- A low threshold for pain
- The inability to sit still in the chair
- Overly sensitive teeth
- An overactive gag reflex
- Several dental procedures that need to be done at once
Additionally, children who are frightened of the dentist or are unable to follow our directions may need to be minimally sedated. In these cases, nitrous oxide will be used because oral sedatives are intended for adult use only. Special needs patients, such as those with autism, down syndrome, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy, among other disabilities, may also benefit from sedation during dental procedures if their disabilities prevent them from regularly visiting the dentist.
Who Should Not Get Sedation?
While most patients who go to the dentist can safely receive at least one form of sedation, there are some people for whom sedation is not recommended. When you come to our office for your consultation, bring a list of any medications and supplements you’re currently taking, and be prepared to answer questions about your medical history. We will review your information and discuss the appropriate form of sedation for you, which may include a combination of available options.
When considering patients for sedation, we will evaluate your overall health, both physical and mental to ensure you’re safely able to tolerate the medications. Certain conditions may require approval from your physician, including diabetes, hypertension, cardiac conditions, and respiratory conditions. We will discuss these conditions at your consultation and outline the steps you need to take to get medical clearance for sedation for your dental treatments. We can also speak to your physician on your behalf as well.
Next Steps
If you think you or a loved one might benefit from sedation for any reason, the next step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Steven H. Hewett, D.D.S. in Champions Gate, FL, who can provide an initial examination and develop a care plan to help you get the dental care you need. Contact our office today to schedule your initial appointment.
