Dental Trends of the Future: Leaving the Past Behind

If you, like many other Americans, suffer from severe anxiety about going to the dentist, there is a solution. Sedation dentistry allows patients to get cleanings and treatments without the stress and fear. If you want to finally get the dental treatment you need without the anxiety, check out these frequently asked questions about sedation dentistry.

1. What Types of Sedation Are Available?

The most popular sedation options include inhalation, oral and IV. Inhalation sedation is more commonly known as "laughing gas" or nitrous oxide. It offers the lowest level of sedation, and is usually incredibly affordable or even covered by insurance. Oral sedation requires you to take a pill before treatment. This pill, usually in the Valium family, relaxes your body and mind, so you feel less anxious about the dentist. Last, with IV sedation, an IV is used during the procedure to sedate you.

2. Are You Unconscious During Treatment?

Most of the time, you are awake during treatment because the types of sedatives being used are not designed to put you to sleep. However, they can make people groggy and drowsy. This, combined with the reduced stress, causes many patients to fall asleep. However, you can be easily roused by the dentist or hygienist with vocal commands. Unconscious Sedation is available, but it is reserved for major treatments and surgeries.

3. Do You Remember Treatment?

The benefit of sedation dentistry is that it makes the entire treatment seem surreal and fast. Because of this, it is common for patients to have little to no memory of the treatment. Some patients may recall a moment, such as a dentist asking them to do something, but it will feel more like recalling a dream. This also makes patients feel more comfortable about going back to the dentist.

4. Will A Driver Be Required?

The disadvantage of sedation is you may need a driver. With oral and IV sedation, you will be too groggy after the procedure to drive home safely. In fact, you may have trouble walking on your own, making it even more important to have someone with you when treatment is over. Nitrous oxide, however, is quickly flushed from your system. The moment you stop breathing in the gas, your body begins expelling it, so you can usually drive home yourself.

Sedation dentistry is making it easier for more people to get the dental treatments they need to have a healthy, beautiful smile. If you are sick of avoiding the dentist, consider sedation dentistry to eliminate anxiety. For more information, contact a dentist in your area today.