Feeling nervous when visiting the dentist is entirely normal. The good news is that there are options to help keep you more comfortable. In this post, our Surrey dentist talks about dental sedation, what it feels like and how we help keep you comfortable at our clinic.
What is dental sedation and how does it help?
Many dental clinics offer dental sedation through a few different administration methods to help patients relax during dental appointments and can be especially useful during long or more invasive procedures such as tooth extractions. There are normally three different types of sedation: oral, nitrous oxide, and IV. At Proactive Dental Studio, we offer oral sedation in either liquid or pill form.
Sedation may be helpful for patients who are extremely anxious about dental procedures, need complicated treatment, or have a strong gag reflex. If you are considering dental sedation then your dentist will want to schedule a consultation and get a detailed health history from you before moving forward.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a gas that can be inhaled to help relieve stress and anxiety. One of the benefits is that the gas levels can be adjusted to meet the needs of each patient.
Oral Sedation
Sedation in the form of liquid or pills is known as oral sedation. These medications can be taken the night before an appointment to help you sleep better, or one hour before to help you relax before and during treatment.
IV Sedation
IV or intravenous sedation is a type of anesthesia that helps a patient relax by inserting an intravenous (IV) catheter into a vein. Except for those under general anesthesia, patients are usually awake during the procedure.
What will I feel while I am sedated?
The purpose of dental sedation is to help you relax and stay comfortable for the duration of your dental visit. No matter how sleepy you are, you will remain awake and able to interact with your dentist and follow instructions throughout your procedure. If you do doze off, a light shake should shake you out of it.
With conscious oral sedation, typically, patients have little recollection of the procedure. After being sedated with oral sedation, many patients report having a conscious dream. Oral sedation usually allows for a faster recovery than general anesthesia.
Rest assured that our dental team will be monitoring you for the entirety of the time that you are sedated. This will help to ensure that you are safe the entire time.
Can I drive home after having dental sedation?
You should always have someone with you who can drive to and from an appointment when you intend to be sedated. Although sedation is only temporary, you may be drowsy enough to drive. Because oral sedation can take several hours to leave your system, consult with your dentist about when you can resume driving.
Don't let anxiety or dental phobias keep you from getting the care you need. Our dentists can assist you in choosing between IV or oral sedation for your procedure by determining whether you are a candidate for dental sedation. Keep in mind that nitrous oxide and oral sedation ought to function similarly.
Supporting Anxious Patients at Proactive Dental Studio
While we do not offer dental sedation at our clinic, we believe in building strong connections with our patients which can help us to make your visit more comfortable. Feel free to let us know if there is ever anything we can do to help you relax during your appointment such as taking a break if you become overwhelmed.