When You Need Sedation Dentistry

For some people, visiting a dentist regularly is like paying their taxes. They are not particularly excited about it, but they do it, anyway, knowing it’s the right thing to do. Then again, there are those who equate dental visits to arranging their own funeral since they can’t help but feel great apprehension, manifested by sweaty palms, rapid heartbeats, and panic attacks.

If you believe you belong to the second category, you may want to consider sedation dentistry. With this, you’ll be able to relax and go through dental procedures without feeling anxious or uncomfortable. Sedation dentistry will also help control your movements like fidgeting during the dental procedure.

There are a variety of methods to implement sedation in dental patients, ranging from oral sedation to intravenous (IV). Oral sedation typically involves anti-anxiety medications like valium or halcyon. Meanwhile, in IV sedation, the sedation dentist has to work with an anesthesiologist to administer the drug into your bloodstream before your dental treatment.

If possible, reserve the option of sedation dentistry for complex procedures like wisdom teeth extraction or dental implants. If you are headed to the dentist only for a routine teeth cleaning or a basic tooth extraction, however, consider local anesthetics instead, or something as simple as inhaling laughing gas. Try out some distraction techniques, too, like listening to your favorite music through headphones.