Does the thought of visiting a dentist make you tense or anxious? Do you avoid treatments because of your fear of pain? Many people have this issue. They are so phobic about seeing a dentist that they prefer not to have any solution for their dental worries.
Thanks to sedation dentistry, it can help alleviate your nervousness, making your dentist visit calm, comfortable and stress-free. The dental industry uses sedation to make many dental procedures comfortable and relaxing for you. They use it for simple tooth cleaning to many invasive procedures. However, the dosages, types and application method depend on the severity of your fear.
The sedation technique can ease your anxious nerves and make you feel relaxed in the dentist’s chair. Let’s learn how.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
It is a process that uses medication or sedatives to help patients relax during dental procedures. It focuses on providing anxiety-free treatments. Sedation dentistry is also called sleep dentistry. Generally, patients remain conscious throughout the dental procedures, but they can’t feel pain, smell, or sound that can trigger their anxiety level.
Generally, dentists use the following levels of sedation depending on your specific need:
- Deep sedation – Patients remain on the edge of consciousness but are still awakened in deep sedation.
- Moderate sedation – In this case, patients don’t remember much of the procedure and slur their words while speaking.
- Minimal sedation – In minimum sedation, patients remain awake but calm and relaxed.
- General anaesthesia – General anaesthesia is given to make you completely unconscious.
Who Requires Sedation In Dental Treatments
Sedation is ideal for people with anxiety or fear of dental visits and treatments. A dentist can even give sedation to children if they fear seeing a dentist or refuse to cooperate with them during the treatment. Moreover, sedation dentistry provides a solution to the people who:
- Have a fear of needles.
- Have a low pain threshold.
- Have dental anxiety
- Cannot sit in the dentist’s chair for long.
- Have high teeth sensitivity.
- Have a sensitive gag reflex.
- Have difficulty controlling movements.
- Have special cognitive or behavioural needs.
- Need several dental works.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe For All?
Sedation is usually safe if experienced and certified dentists give it. However, those with obstructive sleep apnea or who are obese should discuss this with their dentist before having sedation. It is because they can develop complications from getting anaesthesia.
It’s essential to ensure that your dentist is qualified to administer different sedation types. However, you can also note the following points to ensure that your dentist is on the right track:
- Remember to ensure that your dentist goes over your medical history. He should examine your physical and oral health to determine whether you are appropriate for sedation. In addition, your dentist should ask for the medications you are currently taking.
- It’s vital to find out your dentist’s experience using sedation and how many cases he has performed till now. His success history can make you more confident about receiving sedation.
- You can discuss your condition and ask about your suitability for sedatives and the appropriate doses for your health and age. In addition, you can get confirmation whether the recommended dose falls within Australian medical standards.
- Remember to receive a form giving details of the risks involved. Then, you can discuss it with your dentist and ask questions to clarify your doubts.
- Check whether your dentist monitors your vital signs and symptoms during the procedure following the Australian guidelines. Your dentist should have oxygen, artificial ventilation, and drugs to reverse the effects of sedation in case you need them.
Can All Dentists Perform Sedation?
Most dentists can administer minimal sedation that includes a nitrous oxide or pills. Many dentists can give moderate sedation, but only a small percentage of dentists can qualify for deep sedation and general anaesthesia. Generally, these dentists are qualified oral and maxillofacial surgeons and also anesthesiologists. However, some dentists are specially trained to give all levels of anaesthesia and sedation to adults and children.
Each country regulates the use of sedation techniques in different ways. However, most dentists require special training or certification to perform sedation safely.
Schedule Your Appointment Now!
No need to put off your required dental treatments anymore! At Sunshine Dental Group, we have a team of qualified sedation dentists to cater to your different relaxation needs while on the dentist’s chair. We promise to make your anxious, nervous feel relaxed and calm to get a quality treatment smoothly.
Call us on (03) 9133 8659 to get a comfortable and caring dental experience. In addition, you can inform us about your requirement by filling out our online form. Then, we will help you to schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any chance of feeling pain with sedation dentistry?
The sedation technique reduces your pain, anxiety, and discomfort during any dental procedure. Here, your dentist can use a combination of sedation and anaesthesia or only sedation to keep you comfortable and pain-free while you undergo dental treatments in the dentist’s chair. As a result, patients leave the dentist’s office with almost no memory of their treatment and positive experience of dental visits. Hence, it is clear that you will not feel any pain with sedation dentistry.
What are the types of sedation used in dentistry?
Following are the types of sedation commonly used in dentistry:
- Inhaled minimal sedation – Your dentist will make you breathe nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide will make you feel calm. However, your dentist will control and monitor the amount of sedation you receive and its effect. The gas tends to wear off quickly, and you can easily drive your car home after the procedure.
- IV moderate sedation – Your dentist will inject the sedative drug into your vein to work it more quickly. It allows your dentist to adjust the sedation level continually.
- Oral sedation – Depending on your needs, oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. You will be given a pill about an hour before the procedure for minimal sedation. The pill will make you feel drowsy while you’ll still awake. Your dentist can give a larger dose to produce moderate sedation.
- Deep sedation and general anaesthesia – You will get medications that make you unconscious or almost unconscious during the dental procedure.
Is sedation dentistry safe for my children?
Many children fear visiting a dentist. It’s a new experience for them; they don’t know that the dentist appointment is temporary and necessary for their teeth. Hence, sedation dentistry can solve their fear issue. It is entirely safe for children.
If your child fears a dentist, don’t feel sad. Instead, you can talk to your dentist or prosthodontist about sedation dentistry for children. Hence, you don’t have to be tense every time your child has a dental appointment. Your dentist will explain to you the sedation options and help you choose which medication or sedation level will be most appropriate for your child.
