A lot of people fear going to the dentist because they perceive the dental procedures to be extremely painful. While dental treatments may have been painful in the yesteryears, today, with the help of advanced technologies, patients can undergo nearly painless dental procedures.
Sedation dentistry is the solution for such people to have a relaxed experience at the dentist’s. This method uses sedatives and oral medication to help you ease before the dental procedure. It calms your fears and makes the procedure go smoothly. There are three types of sedation techniques that dentists use. This includes:
In this article, we will talk about oral and inhalation sedation, and what to expect from them during the entire procedure.
Before you decide to take up sedation dentistry, set up an initial consultation with your dentist. Inquire about the sedation options they offer. Weigh the pros and cons of each method. Talk to your dentist about your medical history like pregnancies, previous dental surgeries, or other conditions like diabetes or asthma. If you are allergic to any medicines, mention the same to your dentist. This will help them choose the right sedation method for you. The dentist will also analyze your oral condition and this will help them recommend the best sedation option for you. Typically, the sedatives used only calm the anxiety. . Hence, the doctor may have to administer anesthesia to numb the area and make it painless.
The dentist may ask you to follow some instructions, before the treatment. This includes having a proper diet and a good sleep a night before the surgery. This way your anxiety levels will be low and you will be relaxed during the procedure. They may also recommend certain other medicines depending on your medical history to avoid any complications. When you arrive at the dentist’s office for the treatment, make sure you have followed these instructions properly. During the process, the dentist keeps track of your vital signs like the heart rate and blood pressure. This is to ensure that your body is responding well to the administered medication. Have a family member or a friend accompany you to the clinic. This is vital because some people become unconscious during the process and feel groggy after the treatment.
After the dental treatment, it will take some time for the effect of the sedatives to wear off. It is necessary that you are well rested till that time. Ask the dentist about the ideal time it would take for the effect of the medicines to die down. Certain activities like riding or driving should be avoided immediately after undergoing a sedation dentistry process. Ask a friend to drive you back home. Look out for any after-effects like a dry mouth, nausea, or hiccups. They might occur in minimal amount, but anything severe should be reported to the dentist immediately.
We hope that you have some insight on things to consider before a sedation dentistry procedure. You can read here to know more in detail about sedation dentistry. You can also read about the benefits of sedation dentistry here.