subject: Conscious Sedation in Dental Surgery and Procedures [print this page] Dental Procedures and Dental Conscious Sedation
Every year millions of Americans suffer from toothaches and gum diseases just because of poor dental hygiene. Dental checkups are a great way of maintaining your teeth's health but one question that remains in people's minds is why people still fail to visit their dentist.
Going to the dentist is like visiting your doctor for your yearly checkups. We all know that both are important for our health but we still fail to do so.
A trip to the dentist is not something most people look forward to, it is not like going to the movies or a short trip to the mall. In fact, going to the dentist brings negative thoughts to some people. This is mainly due to their fear that dental procedures, such as tooth extractions, are painful. New developments in the field of Dentistry, like anesthesia, have made dental procedures, such as tooth extractions safer and virtually painless.
What exactly is conscious sedation?
Anxiety and fear are the main reasons why patients fail to visit their dentists. Dental conscious sedation allows the patient to be awake and aware of the dental procedure as it happens. This allows you to interact with your doctor to remove your doubts and fears as your dentist treats you.
Conscious sedation is a type of anesthesia used to stop sensations in a specific part of the body, yet leaving the patient conscious. Pain is reduced, or eliminated, by stopping sensation in the mouth area for dental surgery and procedures. This is most often a simple and pain-free procedure where a patient breathes in some gas to calm their nerves.
Why Conscious Sedation for Dental Care Procedures?
Most dental procedures like cleaning and teeth extraction only require a part of the mouth to be isolated from sensation, allowing the patient to talk with dentist throughout the procedure. Communication allows the dentist to explain what he is doing and relieves any fear or anxiety in the patient making the visit a more pleasant and enjoyable one.
How are Dental Conscious Sedations done?
Dental conscious sedations are easy to administer and can generally be done at the clinic.
A quick medical checkup is done before the dental procedure. A brief medical history is taken and the patient is asked if they suffer from any particular medical condition. Patients are also asked if they have taken any medications because certain drugs reduce the effectiveness of some anesthesia.
Below are the three main ways of administering Conscious Sedations:
Inhalation Sedation:
This is the most popular way of performing conscious sedation. Patients are asked to breathe in a Nitrous Oxide gas, commonly known as Laughing gas, because of its' immediate euphoric effects. This anesthesia leaves the patient relaxed for the duration of their dental procedure.
Oral Sedation:
This is the simplest way of administering medication for relieving pain and relaxing the patient. The medication comes in the form of a pill which is taken before the procedure. This type of anesthesia has a longer lasting effect, and may cause the patient to remain longer in the clinic, until some of the effects have worn off, before being discharged.
IV sedation:
This is the most complex form of anesthesia, as medications are administered by the dentist intravenously, allowing fine adjustments to the amount of medication required for each patient.
What are the side effects of conscious dental sedation?
The common side effects of these medications are vomiting and headaches. If advised, drinking plenty of water can help reduce any adverse reaction. If you display any side effects, patients may be asked to stay for observation before finally being sent home.
Anesthesias may also cause numbness outside of the mouth area, or the patient's eyelids, and mouth to droop, but this disappears when the anesthesia wears off. Although some of these therapies may present some side effects, they usually do not pose long term threats to your health.
Fear Free Dentistry
Conscious dental sedation is a common medical procedure used in dental treatment. These anesthesias allow the dentist to communicate with their patient throughout the dental procedure. Communication between dentist and patient is important for establishing trust, easing a patient's fear, and allowing them to feel they are in control of the procedure. Being conscious during the treatment allows the patient to fully understand each step of the procedure, making the experience less stressful for them. Conscious sedation therapies are intended to make your visit to the dentist a more enjoyable and pleasant experience. If you suffer from dental anxiety, talk with your dentist about conscious sedation treatment for you.
Conscious Sedation in Dental Surgery and Procedures
