Do you feel tension and fear in your entire body when your teeth are cleaned or treated by the doctor? Such feelings make most people fear going to the dentist, so they won’t receive any treatment. Sedation dentistry will help such people because it involves using medications that relax the patients, hence removing anxiety. During sedation, you may be fully awake or semi-conscious, where you will be responding to commands by the doctor. Sometimes in what we call deep sedation, you may not be fully aware of your surroundings. Woodland Hills sedation dentistry specialists at Couture Smiles are ready to offer you an appealing and healthy smile through sedation dentistry; this allows you to receive all your dental care needs once without any worry or discomfort.
What Happens During Sedation Dentistry?
The procedure followed in sedation dentistry may differ depending on the type of treatment you want to receive. The following are the standard procedures done during the process:
- The doctor will ask you to sit on the treatment chair or table. You may also be asked to change into a treatment gown during a process such as an endoscopy.
- The doctor will then give you a sedative using either a tablet, a facial mask that makes you inhale the sedative, or intravenous sedation (IV line). After this, you will have to wait for almost an hour until the sedative becomes functional. Intravenous sedation works almost immediately, while sedation taken orally will be effective after 30 to 60 minutes.
- During the procedure, the doctor will also look after your breathing and blood pressure. The doctor will need to maintain the blood pressure at normal levels and give you an oxygen mask when your breathing becomes low.
- After the sedative becomes effective, the doctor will begin to carry out the process. Depending on the type of treatment and needs, you will be given different sedation types to avoid complications.
What Are The Side Effects Of Sedation?
Every medical treatment has its side effects, and it depends on the type of sedative used. Not all people experience the same side effects, but the following are the expected effects:
- Feeling sleepy
- Reduced blood pressure
- Nausea
- Dryness in the mouth
- Concentration problems
- Feeling of dullness
- Headache
- Unclear vision
What Are The Benefits Of Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry has several benefits that you might not have thought of before. They include:
Relieves anxiety
One of the most necessary uses of sedation is to relieve anxiety for patients who feel panic before and during the procedure. Relieving anxiety allows one to undergo the process comfortably.
Fastens the Procedure
When one is calmed through sedation, they won’t wriggle in the seat while the dentist tries to carry out the procedure. This will ensure the procedure will be smooth and done within a short time.
Helpful for people with disorders and special needs
Some people might have problems such as sensory processing and autism disorders that harm the nervous system. Such people will be able to get help without any discomfort.
Anxiety can cause problems for the treatment, and you should talk to your doctor about your needs and expectations. Contact your doctor to learn more about sedation dentistry.