Oral Sedation Dentistry

There are as many levels of anxiety today- in fact, between 30 and 40 million American experience some level of dental anxiety or dental phobia. Sometimes a prior bad experience has created this anxiety or influencing conversations from family and friends. Possibly the anticipation of pain forms the anxiety or the feeling of helplessness sitting in the dental chair. Some people don’t care for someone to be in their mouth and find that an embarrassing experience. Sedation dentistry can help you address an important part of your personal care. Knowing that you need to go and see a dentist could induce anxiety, but sedation dentistry might be your answer.

The Different Methods of Sedation Dentistry

Oral sedation is one of four methods that can be used to stymie your anxiety. The method recommended and chosen will align with your level of anxiety. The easiest method and one used most often is that of nitrous oxide or laughing gas. Administered through a mask it has an immediate effect and does not last long. It will relax you. The second method is taking a medication orally an hour before your procedure. This method will make you drowsy and again relaxed. Oral sedation is quite harmless. You might choose to take a medication like valium to just remove the edge. The third method involves a deeper form a sedation. IV sedation is sedation that is administered intravenously. This method is also popular due to the immediate results and it will put you right on the edge of unconsciousness. The final method is that of using a general anesthesia to achieve full unconsciousness or being totally asleep.

Weighing Risk and Reward

We so often forget and take for granted our oral hygiene and the role our mouth plays in our health care. Understand that every ounce of life sustaining nutrition enters your body through this oral portal. It is very important to monitor and take care of your teeth and gums for this reason. Oral sedation is a very safe method in sedation dentistry. By taking the medication you can proceed with the dental procedure relaxed with very little anxiety. The only side effect might be dry mouth as the medication wears off. You might also experience a headache that can be neutralized with an over the counter pain medication. You might feel a bit foggy with even some memory loss- it will be necessary to have someone drive you home.

Make New Memories

After several successful dental visits that you can place in the more pleasant category you may find your level of anxiety retracting. The health associations suggest that we see our dentist twice a year for regular evaluations to monitor our oral health. With good oral hygiene at home this is a small price to pay to maintain your beautiful smile and healthy teeth and gums. Give oral sedation a try.

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