Dentistry California » Portland Sedation Dentistry
Sedation Dentistry - Is It For You?
There are very few people who actually enjoy going to the dentist. In fact, most of us fear it. We fear the potential for pain and discomfort, as well as the costs associated with some procedures. These and many other reasons keep people from making it to their regular appointments. You know, however, that there is value in making sure that you have a healthy mouth. You also know that you need to take care of your teeth if there is a problem but you just can’t build up the courage to make it into the dentist’s office. Or maybe you can make it to your dentist’s office but you are a nervous wreck the whole time. Does this sound like you?
Many individuals like this choose to participate in sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry is for those who would not receive the dental care that they need unless they had some way of making themselves feel more relaxed or at ease. Sedation dentistry is also for those who do not respond well to pain medicines or numbing agents.
As with any sedative there are dangers so a dentist must receive training and certification in order to offer sedation in the office. When properly administered sedatives in the dentist’s office are relatively safe. In fact, children are commonly patients of sedation dentistry because they are more prone to be scared of the dentist’s office and what happens there.
As you are contemplating whether or not sedation dentistry can help you, consider that there are several different methods that can be used. In sedation dentistry the three most common methods of sedation are IV sedation, oral sedation, and inhalation sedation.
In IV (intravenous) sedation, the sedative is administered directly into the blood stream. The patient can sleep through all or most of the procedure. If needed, more sedative can be administered through the IV at any point during the visit. IV sedation is strong and its effects will therefore take longer to wear off. Also after having IV sedation you will most likely not have any memory of your procedure. Until the medication wears off you should not drive so it is wise to bring someone to your appointment who can drive you home afterwards.
With oral sedation the sedative is weaker than the one given intravenously and it is given orally. Most individuals fall into a sleep like state and remain comfortable and relaxed during the procedure. Most people will not have much memory of their experience in the dentist’s chair. One disadvantage to oral sedation is that it becomes difficult to administer additional medication if it is needed.
The third and most common and well known method of sedation is often referred to as laughing gas. Laughing gas is a type of sedation that is inhaled. When the drug is inhaled it’s effects are to calm and relax, not necessarily to make you fall asleep. Inhaled sedation will not necessarily make you laugh, it is intended to make you feel so much at ease that you could feel like laughing if you wanted too. Since the patient is conscious with inhaled sedation, administering additional doses of the sedative is relatively simple. The effects of the sedative gas are much more temporary than those of other sedation methods and memory is commonly unaffected.
Dr. Dennis Simmons, DDS, is a leading Apple Valley dentist. Dr. Simmons and the Twin Cities Dental Center specialize in Smile Makeovers, Dental Implants and Sedation Dentistry. Visit the Twin Cities Dental Center or call (952) 891-8484 for more information on how Dr. Simmons can build you a brilliant smile.
Source: www.articlesbase.com