It is important that everyone visits their local dentist at least once a year. For some people, unfortunately, the thought of making an appointment is terrifying. The fear of seeing a dentist is very real, and it is estimated that close to 10 percent of people avoid yearly checkups due to anxiety. Many dentists, however, are now offering both oral and IV Sedation Dentistry as a tool for calming the nerves of apprehensive patients.
The most common type of sedation dentists use is oral. It may be administered as a pill or gas. Patients that opt to take an anti-anxiety pill are usually written a prescription before their appointment. They must remember to take the medication beforehand, usually an hour before the appointment begins. An alternative to pills is nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas. This gas is administered after the patient arrives at the clinic. The dentist will cover the patient’s face with a mask, and the patient will slowly breathe in the gas. Laughing gas gets its name because patients often report feeling happy and relaxed. Both methods of oral sedation are suitable for most patients. After the dental work is complete, they will have minimal memories of the appointment.
On the other hand, IV Sedation Dentistry is used for extremely anxious patients. This is reserved for people who suffer from debilitating fear and for those who must undergo intense dental work. In this type of sedation, the patient is administered general anesthesia through an IV line. The medication in the IV puts the patient to sleep while the dentist completes the necessary procedures. Patients who choose this method will have no memories of the visit. Only a handful of dentists offers deep sleep sedation, as the patient must be monitored by an anesthesiologist during the entire procedure.
Both types of sedation require the patient to have a designated driver after their appointment. While the effects of nitrous oxide generally wear off soon after the mask is removed, IV sedation takes longer until the patient feels normal again. If fear is keeping you away from the dentist, call Business Name to see if you are a candidate for either oral or IV sedation. You can follow them on Google+.
