Going to a dentist can be a nerve-wracking experience for many people. Fear of going to the dentist is common and many people avoid going because of this. Dentists are aware of this and generally offer options for patients to be comfortable, and one of those options is sedation dentistry.
Sedation dentistry involves different types of sedative drugs to relax a patient before a dental procedure. There are four types of sedation methods today: oral sedatives, intravenous (IV) sedatives, nitrous oxide sedatives, and general anesthesia. It is up to a patient to discuss his or her fears with the dentist as well as other health factors that will determine the type of sedative to be used.
Oral sedative medicine is given to a patient the night before, or more than half-hour before the procedure. Intravenous sedation is administered directly to the blood stream. Nitrous oxide sedation, or laughing gas, is used to relax the patient. All of these still require the use of a local aesthetic to numb the area around the procedure. General anesthesia is another form of sedation which renders the patient unconscious. This is only reserved for oral surgery. The other forms of sedation keep the patient awake and conscious, but in a relaxed state.
There are different degrees of sedation: anxiolysis is light sedation, conscious sedation is moderate sedation that allows a patient to be conscious but in an extreme relaxation state, deep sedation is when the patient will vacillate between unconsciousness and consciousness and will need some assistance to breath, and unconscious state is being completely knocked out and is used only for oral surgery.
Discussing fears and anxieties with your dentist is necessary for comfort. Many people have some fears when having a procedure, and then there are some who have severe dental phobia and will need time discussing their phobias with a dentist. While adults have some fears and anxieties developed from childhood experiences, children should have regular dental check-ups. For children who have developed dental anxieties, it important to enforce good dental hygiene, discussing these fears with your dentist, and regular dental check-ups so the child will become used to going and get over their fear. If your child is overly afraid, try taking them to a dentist who specialises in pediatric care as they have the necessary training to understand a child’s fear.