For many people, the thought of going to the dentist and getting dental work done can bring anxiety or fear. This can be due to a previous traumatic dental experience, a story from a friend about a failed dental procedure, or the “scary” feeling of sitting on a dental chair and thinking that there will be pain involved in the treatment.
To help patients overcome this fear, Sierra Dental in Signal Hill offers dental sedation. This is a modern approach to dental medicine that uses drugs and sedatives to help patients feel calm, comfortable, and stress-free during treatments.
Dental sedation is not only used for patients with dental phobia. It can also be effective for procedures requiring extended time, patients with special needs, and even uncooperative children.
Types of Dental Sedation
The following are the types of dental sedation according to the strength of its effects— ranging from mild to deep sedation. To give you a better idea about sedation, here are the ones applied in dental medicine, what happens during treatment, and how they work:
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
This is considered as the most common and lightest type of sedation. A mild sedative is inhaled through a mask that is placed over the nose. This sedative takes effect quickly with patients being fully awake but groggy. With this, they will still be able to respond to commands. Once the procedure is done, oxygen is administered through the same mask to eliminate its effects and allow the patient to recover fast.
Oral Sedation
An oral sedative is taken a few hours before the procedure to make the patient drowsy and calm. This type of sedation is recommended for patients who have a low pain threshold, strong gag reflex, or certain medical conditions that make them unable to stay still during treatments.
IV Sedation
Intravenous sedation involves administering a sedative directly into the bloodstream through an IV line. It produces quick results with a deeper level of sedation compared to both inhalation and oral sedation. Under IV sedation, patients remain conscious but have little or no memory of the procedure. Those with severe dental anxiety or who need multiple treatments in one visit will benefit best in this type of sedation.
General Anaesthesia
This is considered as the deepest type of sedation with the patient rendered completely unconscious. Often administered in a hospital set up, general anaesthesia in dentistry requires the expertise of an anaesthesiologist to ensure careful monitoring and dosage during treatment. Patients who require extensive surgery and those with special needs who cannot tolerate treatment while awake are ideal candidates for general anaesthesia.
When is Dental Sedation Recommended?
There are several individuals who may benefit from including dental sedation as part of their treatment plan. It may be recommended in the following situations:
- Patients who have severe dental anxiety or fear
- For treatments that may take a long time, such as multiple tooth restorations or complex surgeries
- Patients with physical or mental conditions that make it hard to stay still or cooperate
- Low sensitivity to pain that may make even simple procedures uncomfortable
- Strong gag reflex as it may affect the efficiency of the treatment
- Previous traumatic dental experience to help set a calm and relaxed mood
- Uncooperative children as they may be too anxious
Ultimately, the goal of dental sedation is to create a relaxed environment so patients can feel more at ease and comfortable during dental treatments. It ensures the experience is manageable and painless to effectively help patients prioritize their oral health without reservations.
Benefits of Dental Sedation
Using sedation in the field of dentistry has several advantages not only to the patient but also for the dental professional.
Reduces anxiety and fear – Sedation dentistry can provide minor sedation to complete loss of consciousness. This technique minimizes the fear that most patients associate with dental procedures, whether it is because of pain or phobia from previous experiences.
Helps deliver quick and efficient dental care – Dental procedures done under sedation dentistry can be provided faster and safer without your dentist worrying of unnecessary movements that may make treatment challenging.
Improves patient experience – Dental sedation offers a safer and more comfortable experience for patients who have dental fear or anxiety and for those who have certain medical conditions that prevent them from getting proper dental care.
Boosts oral hygiene and health – With more patients getting proper treatment and routine dental care with the help of sedation— including those who have dental phobia, medical conditions, and special needs, oral health can improve and be maintained in the long term.
Dental Sedation in Sierra Dental
To ensure that our treatments under dental sedation are done efficiently and safely, we follow the proper protocol before, during, and after treatment. This helps us deliver correct doses that will allow treatments and with minimum to no side effects once the effects wear off.
Pre-planning and consultation is important
Prior to using sedative dentistry, a comprehensive assessment of your health will be done to determine which sedation type is best for you. It will also help your dentist plan the dosage of the drug to be used.
Sedation should only be administered by a trained professional
Sedatives used in dentistry should only be prescribed and provided by either a trained and experienced dentist or anaesthesiologist. This ensures that a safe and right dosage is provided to achieve the desired anaesthetic effect.
Common side effects and how they are managed
As with other dental procedures, side effects are common in sedation. This includes grogginess, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, and vomiting. Usually, the side effects will resolve once the anaesthesia has completely worn off. But if any of these persist, it is best to contact your dentist for urgent care.
Certain conditions are contraindicated with dental sedation
If you have severe respiratory problems, uncontrolled conditions (as in diabetes or hypertension), or allergies to certain medications, sedation may not be recommended to you. Also, if you are taking medications or are pregnant, thorough evaluation of your health is done before undergoing sedation.
Conclusion
Whether you are suffering from severe dental phobia or just want to feel more calm during dental procedures, we offer dental sedation at Sierra Dental so you can receive the dental care you need.
To learn more about this procedure, contact us today to book your consultation! Our expert team is here to help you understand what type of sedation is best for you depending on your individual needs.