Sedation dentistry uses special techniques and medication to keep patients relaxed and comfortable during dental procedures. Sedatives relax you, so you’re less likely to feel any pain or discomfort. It is a common misconception that sedatives always induce deep sleep and make you unconscious. However, that entirely depends on the dosage and type of sedative administered.
Sedation dentistry benefits your oral health by allowing you to relax during your dental procedure. This makes procedures like treating a cavity, wisdom tooth removal, and root canals much easier to get through. It also reduces patient anxiety surrounding these procedures.
In addition to benefiting your physical health, sedation dentistry also benefits your mental health. Anxiety and stress are common issues faced by patients, and sedation dentistry helps to eliminate these issues.
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is one of the mildest forms of sedation. The dentist administers nitrous oxide through a mask. The gas relaxes you and allows you to feel calm before and during the procedure and its effects wear off quickly once you are done with your treatment.
Nitrous oxide can be used by itself or in combination with oral conscious sedation medication. Nitrous oxide is often used for patients who are nervous or fearful about going to the dentist.
We offer three forms of sedation at our dental practice. The first, nitrous oxide, is commonly used to calm patients who are afraid of the dentist. Nitrous oxide is administered through a mask worn over the nose. Patients may feel a slight tingling sensation, but the gas is very light.
We also offer oral conscious sedation. For oral sedation, we will prescribe a medication that you must take before your appointment. The medication will allow you to relax and feel comfortable throughout your visit.
A slightly stronger form is IV sedation, which is directly administered into the vein in liquid form. The amount of sedation administered can be regulated continuously, thereby keeping the patient under a constant state of sedation.
Many dental patients find that sedation dentistry is the solution to their dental anxiety. Sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. Some patients find that sedation dentistry helps to relieve their dental anxiety, while others simply need sedation for dental procedures. Patients who have dental anxiety or fear visiting the dentist may be candidates for sedation dentistry.
Most dentists can provide sedation dentistry to special needs patients, but there are some things to keep in mind. For example, some patients may have trouble breathing through their noses due to nasal congestion. This can cause patients to require different forms of sedation or the dentist may have to administer the sedation differently. Dentists may also need to limit the type of sedatives they use so that they don’t cause a negative interaction with the medications the patient takes.
To find out more about the dental services we offer at Finesse Dental Care, call (805) 410-9324 or schedule a consultation online. You can also visit Dentist Thousand Oaks, CA at 860 Hampshire Rd., Suite E, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361.
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