What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses sedatives to help you feel more relaxed, calm, and comfortable while receiving dental care. It is sometimes called sleep dentistry, but although you may feel quite sleepy, you will generally remain awake during treatment or can be easily awakened. You will experience no pain or discomfort.
Who Can Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?
Treatment is suitable for people of all ages, including children. We may recommend dental sedation if you have any of the following issues:
- Fear or anxiety when you visit the dentist.
- A strong gag reflex.
- A fear of needles.
- Sensitive teeth.
- A low pain threshold.
- Find it difficult to sit still in the dental chair.
- Have special needs that may be behavioral, physical, or cognitive.
What Are the Different Types of Sedation Dentistry?
The level of sedation provided can be mild or moderate, depending on your oral health requirements. We can tailor the level of sedation to meet your needs. Some people may only need light sedation, while others will prefer a more moderate sedative for increased comfort.
Options can include:
- Nitrous oxide.
- Oral sedation.
- Intravenous sedation.
Nitrous Oxide
Oral Sedation
Intravenous Sedation
General Anaesthesia
- Headaches
- Feeling nauseous or vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Bruising left by an IV line
- Feeling nauseous or vomiting
- Snoring
- Developing a fever
Better known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a light sedative that works very quickly. You inhale the laughing gas through a nosepiece or mask. It begins to take effect within minutes. You continue to breathe in the gas throughout your treatment, and our best-rated LI dentists can control the amount of sedative you receive and adjust it accordingly.
Once treatment is complete, we give you pure oxygen, which helps remove the nitrous oxide from your body more quickly. It doesn’t take long before you feel completely back to normal, and if you wish, you can even drive yourself home.
Oral sedation is given in pill form, and you usually take it about an hour before your appointment. The sedative given is usually some form of Valium, but we may use other medications. If we are treating a child, we can provide a liquid sedative.
When you receive oral sedation, you feel deeply relaxed and may fall asleep. However, if we need to, we can easily awaken you, for example, to check that you feel okay. You may have little memory of the treatment when the sedative wears off.
After oral sedation, you will need someone to take you home as you cannot drive.
Intravenous sedation is a deeper form of conscious sedation where the sedative is delivered directly into your bloodstream using an IV line in the back of your hand or the crook of your elbow. Because it is a much deeper level of sedation, we would need to monitor you closely, checking your heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure during treatment.
The sedative can be adjusted during your procedure to ensure you feel comfortable, and reversal medications are available if necessary. Many people who have intravenous sedation will fall asleep during treatment. Afterward, you would likely have no memory of your dental treatment. Afterward, you would likely have no memory of your dental treatment, making it a great option for those undergoing general dentistry procedures.
We may recommend this option if you need lengthy or complex dental treatment or have severe dental anxiety.
Sometimes, a general anesthetic is required during dental treatment. This may be necessary when treating a very young child or adult with special needs, and it is given in a hospital setting. With general anesthesia, you would be completely unconscious. This treatment requires advanced and specialized training and is usually provided by a dental anesthesiologist.
What to Expect If You Need Sedation Dentistry
If you think sedation dentistry would be helpful, we can discuss all options during your initial consultation.
We must ensure sedation dentistry is as safe as possible and appropriate for your needs by carefully reviewing your medical history. Our dentist must know about any medications you currently take or medical conditions.
Once we have all this information, we can suggest suitable sedation options based on your unique needs. If you have any complex medical conditions, we may need to liaise with your healthcare providers during your treatment.
Getting Ready for Sedation Dentistry
Before your appointment, we will give you instructions on how to prepare. We may ask you not to eat or drink anything for several hours before treatment. You might need to discontinue certain medications, like blood thinners, a few days before your dental appointment.
What to Expect During Sedation Dentistry
You will receive your sedative before treatment begins. We will still provide a local anesthetic to ensure your mouth is numb, but this is generally given after the sedative has taken effect to ensure you feel more comfortable.
We monitor you closely during your treatment to help keep you safe.
What to Expect after Sedation Dentistry
Except for nitrous oxide, you will need someone with you to take you home. Get plenty of rest while the sedative wears off, and follow our instructions closely on how to care for your mouth after treatment.
If you have received moderate or deeper sedation, you will need to wait 24 hours before you drive again or before making any important decisions.
What Are the Benefits of Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry can be enormously beneficial if you have dental phobias or anxieties or require longer dental treatment. Our dentist can complete more treatment during a single appointment, so that you may need fewer visits to our dental office in Franklin Square, NY.
If you have previously avoided going to the dentist, sedation dentistry can be the solution that helps you receive the care you need or desire.
What Are the Potential Risks of Sedation Dentistry?
We carefully review every patient before prescribing sedation dentistry, which helps minimize the risk. Our dentist will only recommend sedation dentistry if we feel it is appropriate and safe.
However, with any form of sedation, there is always a small level of risk involved. These risks can include:
It is rare for anyone to have an allergic reaction to oral sedation. If this occurs, we have drugs that can counteract any problems.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe for Children?
Sedation dentistry is safe for children and can be useful when a child is scared or anxious or needs extensive dental care. Any side effects afterward are usually minor but can include:
If we provide sedation dentistry for your child, we will monitor them carefully to ensure they are safe to go home. We can also answer any other questions about sedation dentistry for kids during the initial consultation.
Contact Us to Learn More About Sedation Dentistry
If you or another family member have dental fears or anxieties or want a more comfortable experience at the dentist, please get in touch with Clock Tower Dental to learn more.