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Do you need to have your wisdom teeth removed? If you're feeling anxious, we do not blame you—after all, the idea that a dentist is going to cut open your gums to remove teeth are a frightening thought.
Fortunately for you, anesthesia is commonly used in these procedures to dull the pain and help patients feel a bit more calm about it. The amount of anesthesia used, however, can vary depending on the process and the patient itself. For example, a local sedative can be used for simpler cases, whereas a high-level sedative will be needed if the procedure is more complicated.
If you’re unsure about the anesthetic procedure, then here's what you need to know about being sedated for wisdom teeth removal.
When is sedation used?
On a general basis, any patient can be sedated. However, not everyone needs to be, unless they are experiencing stress or fear of the procedure, or have sensitive teeth or a significant gag reflex. If there are multiple procedures to be done that require a lot of intricate dental work, then the patient can be sedated as well.
On that note, a majority of sedated patients are usually children, as they are often too terrified to undergo dental procedures, sometimes outright refusing to cooperate at all.
How is sedation administered?
There are generally two ways you can be sedated. The first method is where you will be given sedatives to be inhaled. In this case, a sedative called nitrous oxide—more commonly known as laughing gas—is used. The second method is to inject the sedative straight into the area to be worked on or by having you ingest a pill for the pain.
Is sedation safe?
Note that whenever you work with any sedative, there is always a risk, especially for those who have chronic health complications, such as obesity or even sleep apnea. However, if you're generally healthy and the sedative is administered by a professional, then you won't have to worry about a thing.
If you're worried, then there are a few things you can do to ensure that you stay safe while under the effects of the sedative. For example, you can ask the dentist how many times they have sedated a patient, how much of a dose you're going to get, or other related questions.
You can also read through the possible risks of sedation and ensure that your dentist is qualified to administer the sedative. In the worst-case scenario, ensure that there is oxygen at hand to reverse the sedative’s effects.
Conclusion
Your need to be sedated will depend both on your capabilities as well as the complexity of the procedure. Again, if a procedure is a long and complex one, such as tackling more than one wisdom tooth, then you will most definitely need to be sedated. However, the level of sedation you'll receive will vary on other factors as well, such as your tolerance level to pain.
Whether you need it or not, it pays to do a bit of research to figure out how sedation can help you, as well as the possible risks attached to it. Furthermore, you should consult with your dentist on the topic to figure out if you are going to be sedated and what to expect. Doing this will help you feel a lot less anxious about the procedure!
Are you looking for wisdom teeth removal services in Waterford? Dental House MI offers a myriad of dental services, including wisdom teeth removal! Reach out to us today.
