Do you often feel anxious when you think of your dental visits? Do you hate the sounds of dental drills and instruments? You are not alone. Dental fear or anxiety is one common issue faced by a large number of people worldwide that prevents them from seeking dental care on time. Such patients with dental anxiety can benefit from sedation dentistry. 

What is dental sedation?

Dental sedation is medication taken before your appointment to help you relax. Your dentist may prescribe oral medication, nitrous oxide, or IV sedation, as per your need and the type of dental procedure you are undergoing.  

Dental sedation and its benefits

Dental sedation offers a variety of benefits for patients. Some of them are:

• Reduction of pain
• Reduced anxiety
• Improved comfort
• Increased safety of dental work
• Ease of dental work
• Quicker and more efficient dental work

When is dental sedation used?

Dental sedation can reduce stress, anxiety, and discomfort during dental treatment. Patients may feel calmer and may even fall asleep during the procedure. Once treatment is complete, patients will feel fully rested and refreshed.

Dental sedation is ideal for patients with high anxiety, trouble getting numb, sensitive teeth, strong gag reflex, or limited jaw mobility.

Types of sedation in dentistry

• Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide also called laughing gas, is administered through a mask placed over the patient’s nose. The patient will inhale the nitrous oxide, which then makes them feel more relaxed and calm throughout their procedure.

• Oral sedation

Oral sedation dentistry refers to the use of oral medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It is a popular option for many patients, as it is easier to administer than all other modes of sedation.

• IV sedation

IV sedation involves administering sedatives intravenously, which means the sedative is delivered directly into your bloodstream. This type of sedation is sometimes referred to as “twilight” sedation because the drugs work quickly, and your level of consciousness will decline steadily.

IV sedation is a fast-acting form of sedation. However, it’s also one of the most complicated to administer since the sedatives must continuously be administered throughout your procedure.

• General anesthesia

Sometimes, patients may experience severe anxiety during dental treatments. In these cases, oral medications may not be effective or enough to calm the patient’s nerves. In these cases, general anesthesia may be the best option. General anesthesia involves administering medication to help the patient relax and feel completely at ease. It renders a patient unconscious and unable to feel pain. 

General anesthesia is often given to patients undergoing extensive procedures, such as full mouth reconstruction, wisdom tooth extractions, and periodontal surgery.

If you have dental anxiety or if you wish to have a comfortable dental experience, we can help you with sedation dentistry. Visit our clinic at Winning Smiles Family Dentistry, 7801 Old Branch Ave #206, Clinton, MD 20735. For appointments, call us at (301) 868-2004.