subject: Sedation Dentistry Eases Your Fear [print this page] Sedation dentistry is available for patients who are afraid of the dentist or who just don't want to feel any painful sensations. There aren't many people who want to experience pain, especially when having their teeth and gums worked on. Some individuals may have developed a fear or even phobia of dental practitioners because of an unfortunate past experience but that can be alleviated with some of today's helpful techniques. Taking care of oral health care is very important to overall wellbeing. Without proper cleaning, exams, and treatments, a person could face a multitude of physical problems. Being afraid of pain is no longer a reason to skip dentist appointments.
Some dental procedures require more painkillers than others. Some examples of procedures that might be well served by sedation dentistry include extractions, root canals, dental implants, having cavities filled, oral surgery, cosmetic dental procedures, and wisdom teeth removal. But being sedated doesn't have to be reserved only for these major appointments. Some patients require a degree of sedation for exams, cleanings, and other less intrusive techniques. The important thing is making fearful patients comfortable about their oral health care experiences.
One option is taking anti-anxiety medications. A DDS may prescribe a couple of tablets of Valium or Xanax: one to take the night before the procedure and one to take the day of. This allows the patient to relax and avoid the nervousness before and during the appointment, which can be a great boon to courage. Other options are analgesics and anesthetics. Analgesics may be over-the-counter medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, or anti-inflammatories. Prescription strength versions are available, too. Anesthetics are often injected but they may also be applied like an ointment. These products cause the area where the work is to be done to become numb so no pain is felt.
Laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide, is another method of allowing a person to relax as well as a way to minimize pain. This product is delivered through a mask that the patient breathes into during the procedure. Laughing gas doesn't actually make a person giggle or guffaw, but it does make them feel happy enough to not worry about being in a dental chair. If a patient chooses to be deeply sedated, a dental professional or an anesthesiologist may administer a medication to cause a semi-conscious or unconscious state. This process will alleviate all feeling and pain during the process.
The personality of a dental professional will also play a large part in how comfortable it is to be in his or her office. A sensitive practitioner who understands that patients worry about dental appointments can set his or her patients' nerves at ease with a bit of compassion and kindness. A doctor's bedside manner is an important part of patients' satisfaction and a dentist's chair-side manner is the same. Once a patient has experienced sedation dentistry under the skillful, kindly oversight of a compassionate practitioner, he or she might not be afraid anymore.
