If the prospect of going to the dentist makes you anxious, don’t worry – you are not alone! Thankfully, we can help you get through your dental procedure with several sedation dentistry services. Sedation dentistry makes dental procedures a calm and comfortable experience. Here is a comprehensive list of what you can expect during your visit.
At Implant Dentistry Northwest, we strive to educate our patients on procedures and pain control. We will happily work with you to alleviate fears and anxiety and answer all of your questions. Your smile is a reflection of your confidence; at Implant Dentistry Northwest, we deliver the utmost care so that you can project your best, most vibrant you! To find out more about our sedation dentistry services in Tacoma, WA, or to book an appointment, contact us today.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is intended to help patients to relax during dental procedures. Many people get anxious when going to the dentist, so medical sedation is provided to remove pain and keep patients calm. If you undergo sedation dentistry, you will usually be awake, except if general anesthesia is required. Sedation alleviates fear and anxiety and makes dental procedures more comfortable and easier to get through.
How Do Dentists Control Pain and Anxiety?
Dentistry can and should be a pleasant and pain-free experience. At Implant Dentistry Northwest, we work with you to find the sedation and pain control method that suits you best. Our goal is to alleviate anxiety and stress so that you can get the care you need. Fear should never prevent you from getting the essential dental care you need.
We offer a variety of methods to numb pain and reduce anxiety, such as local anesthesia, oral sedatives, intravenous sedation, and general anesthesia.
What is Local Anesthesia for Dental Procedures?
Local anesthetics are numbing injections that block pain in a specific, localized area. One type of local anesthetic is called a “blocker.” Its purpose is to block pain receptors in a specific region of the mouth. The other type of local anesthetic is known as an “infiltration injection,” and can pinpoint the numbing effect to a very small area. Local anesthesia usually lasts several hours.
Lidocaine is the most common local anesthetic. (All of the local anesthetics have names ending in “-caine.”) These injections include ingredients that work synergistically with the primary pain-killing medication, making the numbing agents work more effectively and last longer.
What Forms of Sedation Dentistry Are There?
While most people are familiar with nitrous oxide (laughing gas), there are other forms of sedation dentistry.
- Oral Sedatives
- Oral sedatives are a mild form of sedation; the patient remains awake but relaxed. An hour before the procedure, the dentist will administer a medication such as Halcion, Valium, Ativan, or Xanax to relieve anxiety. These medications affect the part of the brain that regulates fear. Oral sedatives may cause drowsiness and may cause the patient difficulty in recollecting memories of events that occur while the medication is in the system. These types of medications may be contraindicated for those who have certain medical conditions, in which case, one of the other methods may be more appropriate.
- IV Moderate Sedation
- In this method of sedation, the patient receives the sedative intravenously, which works more quickly than orally administered sedatives. The patient remains conscious, relaxed, and comfortable, although his or her speech may be slurred. Anxiety levels are reduced, and memories of the procedure are minimal. The IV drip allows the dentist to adjust sedation levels during the procedure. This form of sedation tends to wear off quickly after the treatment is over.
- General Anesthesia
- A patient under general anesthesia is either entirely unconscious or nearly unconscious and cannot easily be awakened. The effects of the anesthesia may take several hours to wear off. Occasionally the patient is given a medication to counteract the sedative so that consciousness is regained more quickly.
- The patient must adhere to a strict pre-procedure protocol and generally needs to arrange for a ride home after a procedure that has been performed under general anesthesia.
- Each state’s dental board carefully regulates the use of sedation dentistry and requires dentists to be specifically trained in order to hold the highly technical certifications. Dr. Keith Phillips is board-certified to perform sedation dentistry.
What Can I Expect During Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is carried out in five easy steps:
- Pre-Procedure Consultation: We will start with an initial meeting in which we review your medical history, discuss your anxiety and determine the most appropriate form of sedation for you and the procedure you require.
- Arriving for Your Appointment: When you arrive at the clinic, it is important to have followed all the precautions and instructions provided by your dentist. Someone will need to drive you to and from the clinic.
- Administering Sedation: Once you are comfortably settled in the dentist’s room, you will receive sedation by inhalation or intravenously, depending on the pre-selected method. If you are taking oral sedation, you would have taken the medication before the procedure.
- Performing the Procedure: When the medication takes effect, you will feel deeply relaxed and calm. Oral sedation makes you drowsy and IV sedation induces a deep state of relaxation – you probably won’t remember much of the procedure.
- Post-Procedure: Nitrous oxide usually wears off quickly, meaning you can drive home after the procedure. However, as already mentioned, if you receive oral or IV sedation, someone will need to drive you home afterward. These forms of sedation usually take a few hours to wear off.