Many people have serious anxieties about visiting the dentist. Although a patient’s fears are largely unfounded, they feel very real to the people involved. Because they feel so real, they have to be taken seriously. These fears often come from people who were taught at an early age to fear the dentist. That fear could have come from an unpleasant trip to the dentist as a child or from some kind of media message. It’s most likely that the fear came from the media. However, once an anxiety sets in, it can be very hard to root out.
That anxiety does not make dental care any less important, though. You still need to get your teeth cleaned, treat cavities, and repair damaged teeth. So, how do you accomplish that if the dental office itself induces serious anxiety? Sedation dentistry is the answer.
Options
Simply put, this field of dentistry is just one that uses several safe and effective techniques to help you relax. These techniques combine pharmaceuticals with psychology to put you in a relaxed mood for your dentist visit. If you haven’t gone to the dentist in years due to your anxieties, this can be an absolute game-changer.
The treatment comes with several options. Oral conscious sedation is one of the most popular options, especially among healthy adults. The patient takes a few pills by mouth, hence the name. These help the person relax, but he or she stays conscious of the procedure happening. The feeling is similar to dozing off.
IV conscious sedation is another option. This is similar to oral conscious sedation, except the drugs are administered intravenously through your arm or hand. The dentist performing this procedure has to have special training in administering an IV. You also remain conscious but relaxed throughout this procedure.
General anesthesia is the most powerful form of sedation dentistry. It’s also called sleep dentistry. This is the ultimate level of sedation. Many patients enjoy this procedure, because the patient lies down, and the doctor administers the general anesthetic that causes the patient to fall asleep. When he or she wakes up, the procedure is already over. It completely negates the anxiety and unpleasantness. Many consider it the ultimate step in patient comfort. This is very well liked by healthy adults; however, it can have a few considerations. Depending on how you respond to sedation, you might need someone to pick you up and take you home from the office. It differs for each person.
Conclusion
What’s most important is that you get your teeth cleaned and get the damage repaired. Dental problems have a way of expanding into serious problems. Keeping your teeth and gums in good working order is very important to stay healthy. To know more about sedation dentistry visit Cascades Center for Dental Health. You can also find them on Facebook.
