When you ask most kids what they fear, you’d probably hear “trips to the dentist” quite a lot. It’s not just children, actually. Even adults often feel a little anxious about going to a dental clinic and they put it off until it’s absolutely necessary, which usually means they’re dealing with a severe dental issue.
If you have a dental problem, though, you shouldn’t postpone your dental appointment. You have the option to seek sedation dentistry in Waterford. But what is sedation dentistry, and why should you consider it? Read on and find out:
What Sedation Dentistry Is
Sedation dentistry simply refers to the use of sedatives to help patients relax during their dental procedure. Sometimes, they are called sleep dentistry, but only a few really put a patient out of consciousness.
Aside from general anesthesia, there are other types of sedation that leave you relaxed but still awake during your treatment.
Why You Should Consider Getting Sedation Dentistry
Here are some of the benefits of getting sedation dentistry from a trusted dentist:
You Get Relief from Your Anxiety
One of the top benefits of getting sedation dentistry is that you get relaxed and eases away your nerves and phobia, making it a lot easier for you to go through oral surgery or any kind of procedure you need to get.
You Wouldn’t Remember the Procedure You Got
Some people experience phobia after getting a dental procedure, especially if they feel a lot of discomfort or pain. With sedation dentistry, you will not even remember anything about the procedure you got! Even if you were awake, you wouldn’t really recall the steps performed. This can help reduce your fear next time you need to visit your dentist.
It Helps Reduce Gag Reflex
Gag reflex is a natural reaction that happens to keep you from swallowing foreign objects and avoid choking. Some people have a more severe gag reflex, though, which can get in the way of a dental procedure. Your local dentist can use sedation dentistry to lessen gag reflex and make it possible to perform and complete the procedure properly.
It Offers Pain Relief
There are instances when local anesthesia isn’t as effective as one might think. In such cases, dental sedation might be necessary to reduce discomfort and pain.
What Options Do You Have?
Sedation dentistry offers several options. Your dentist will determine which one is the most suitable for you:
- Inhaled sedation – laughing gas, as it’s also called, is one of the most commonly used dental sedatives because of its mild effect that occurs immediately and clears just as quickly, making it the best option for kids, too. It gets you relaxed during the dental procedure.
- Oral sedation – you might be given a pill sedative a few hours before the procedure. This can put you to sleep, but you can also be woken up with a shake.
- IV sedation – as the name suggests, this type of sedative is intravenous and injected directly into the patient’s bloodstream. The dentist can adjust the dosage and is often preferred for more complex procedures like implant surgeries.
- General anesthesia – this is given to patients who will undergo oral surgery or similar complicated treatments. This puts the patient to sleep, and medication may be given so the patient can wake up after the procedure.
Conclusion
Getting sedation dentistry from your local dentist in Waterford can be very beneficial to you if you experience anxiety when you get dental procedures done. Because they are generally safe and have very low risks of side effects, there’s nothing to be worried about. Also, you’d be asked by the dentist to stay in the recovery room and only give you clearance when the effects of the sedative have faded. Sedation dentistry may be the best solution for you if you have dental issues that haven’t been addressed because of your dental anxiety.
Dental House MI offerssedation dentistry in Waterford. Whether it’s you or your loved one who’s getting the dental procedure, you can ask our experts about the best option for sedatives that could make the treatment easier. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!