subject: Overcome Your Dental Fear And Anxiety With Sedation Dentistry [print this page] As the spring season brings way to new leaves and green grass, is your smile ready to be shown off? Or is it in need of a spring-cleaning? Due to dental anxiety and fear, many patients avoid going to the dentist for routine cleanings. The end result is a smile that is less than you had hoped for. By skipping your regular visits to your dentist in McAllen, you are setting yourself up for plaque ridden teeth, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Take charge of your smile this season. Your McAllen dentist offers sedation dentistry, which allows you to receive the care you need without the anxiety and fear you often experience before dental appointments. Sedation dentistry offers an innovative way for you to relax, while your dentist performs appropriate procedures to save your smile.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is commonly used today to provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience for certain people receiving dental treatment. It uses medication to help patients relax during their dental procedures, and is sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry," although that is not entirely accurate. Patients are usually awake with the exception of those who are under general anesthesia. The levels of sedation used include:
*Minimal sedation - you are awake, but relaxed.
*Moderate sedation - previously called conscious sedation, this form relaxes you and you may not remember much of the procedure.
*Deep sedation - you are on the edge of consciousness, but can still be woken up.
*General anesthesia - you are completely unconscious.
Types of Sedation Used
Inhaled minimal sedation is commonly known as laughing gas, or nitrous oxide. With this form of sedation, patients breathe nitrous oxide combined with oxygen through a mask that is placed over your nose, which is used to help you relax. Your dentist can control the amount of sedation you receive, and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.
Next, oral sedation is used and can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, you simply take a pill. Typically, the pill is Halcion, which is a member of the same drug family as Valium, and it is usually taken about an hour before the procedure. The pill may make you drowsy, although you will still be awake. A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation, which is the type of anesthesia that is commonly associated with sedation dentistry. Some people become groggy enough from moderate oral sedation to actually fall asleep during their procedure. If they fall asleep, they can usually be awakened with a gentle shake, or nudge.
Another form of sedation is IV moderate sedation. With IV sedation, you receive the sedative through a vein, so it begins to work more quickly. This method allows the dentist to continually adjust your level of sedation. Lastly, deep sedation and general anesthesia will make you either almost unconscious or totally unconscious during the procedure. While you are under general anesthesia, you cannot easily be awakened until the effects of the anesthesia wear off or are reversed with medication.
If you suffer from dental anxiety, or fear, contact your dentist in McAllen for more information on sedation dentistry. With proper consultation, your dentist will provide the best sedation available for your anxiety to help you relax during treatment.
