People who avoid the dentist due to dental anxiety or dental phobia can benefit from sedation dentistry and receive the treatment they need without distress. Here’s what you can expect when you opt to receive dental sedation for your appointment at the dentist!

Your Options for Dental Sedation

A common form of mild dental sedation is nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas. If you aren’t able to relax under nitrous oxide, your dentist may suggest oral sedation.

During oral sedation, your dentist will prescribe a medication, usually a pill, that you’ll take
before you come in for your appointment. Some of these medications are also administered at the dentist office during your appointment orally or intravenously [1].

In the event that you need extensive dental work or have a deep fear of the dentist that
moderate oral or intravenous sedation doesn’t help, you may need to consider general
anesthesia, in which you’ll be completely unconscious for your entire appointment.

General anesthesia may also be considered for children with disabilities who need to receive dental treatment but do not respond well to dentist visits [2].

How You Can Expect to Feel

The goal of sedation dentistry is to provide anxiety relief for patients, so you can expect to feel more relaxed and less nervous with sedation dentistry.

For nitrous oxide, you’ll be awake and aware during your appointment but will feel calm. Oral sedation will relax patients, although they may feel drowsy or groggy. Moderate intravenous sedation may make patients fall asleep but will not induce a deep sleep.

Patients who opt for general anesthesia will be completely or almost completely unconscious during the procedure and will recover at the dental office before going home [3].

What Happens After Your Appointment

Dental sedation can affect everyone differently. The effects of laughing gas don’t last long, so some patients may be able to drive themselves home after their appointment.

However, for more moderate and heavy forms of sedation, you’ll need to have someone drive you to and from your appointment, as the effects of the medication will need time to wear off. During this time, patients can expect to feel sleepy and may not remember the procedure.

Some patients may experience a headache, nausea, or dizziness following their procedure. Your dentist and their staff will be sure you recover from the anesthesia or medication before you go home.

Is Dental Sedation the Right Choice for You?

Dental sedation isn’t for everyone. However, for the right people, dental sedation can make the difference between getting the treatment they need to have a healthy smile and a lifetime of dental issues.

Talk to your dentist about dental sedation to learn more about your options and if sedation could help you relax during your next appointment!

Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/a/anesthesia-and-sedation
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5564153/
3. https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/help/sedation-dentistry/iv-sedation/

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But is dental sedation actually safe for children? Here’s what you need to know when it comes to sedation at the dentist’s office for your child.

Dental Sedation Is Considered to Be Safe

Although dental sedation for children is considered to be safe, there is always a small risk when sedation or anesthesia is involved in a procedure. It’s important to ask any questions you have before the day of the procedure and for both you and your child to be clear about what’s going to happen during the appointment.

Dentists and their staff are required to be properly trained in order to sedate your child. This includes being equipped with monitoring equipment to keep a close eye on their heart and breathing rate as well as their oxygen level. Your dentist office should also have emergency resources on hand in the event that your child suffers a reaction.

The dentist of your choice should always have patient safety in mind, especially when it comes to your child!

Circumstances and Procedures When Used

Dental sedation isn’t taken lightly and is typically not used for procedures such as cleanings and fillings if your child is old enough.

However, if your child is anxious, has trouble sitting still, or suffers from dental phobia, dental sedation may need to be considered. Children who have developmental or physical disabilities may also benefit from dental sedation even during mild procedures such as cleanings.

Children who have strong gag reflexes or a low pain tolerance may also need some form of
sedation. Otherwise, dental sedation is typically only considered in procedures such as root
canals, extractions, and crowns or bridges.

Types of Dental Sedation for Children

There a few different types of dental sedation that your dentist can talk with you about. These include:

 Oral sedation, in which your child will be conscious but relaxed. In this form of sedation,
you’ll typically give your child the medication before leaving for the dentist’s office.

 Nitrous oxide. Also known as laughing gas, this won’t be administered until your child is
in the chair ready for their procedure. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly.

 Intravenous sedation, which involves an IV in the arm and the effects tend to last a bit
longer. This is a deeper form of sedation that is usually only considered under certain
circumstances.

Dental sedation is considered to be safe and is used to protect children during their dental
procedures. The good news is that with proper oral hygiene, your child may never need dental sedation. When considering dental sedation, talk with your dentist about their experience with using dental sedation for certain procedures as well as the needs of your child!

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Dental sedation is something many dentists now offer their patients with dental anxiety. It’s used during procedures that may not necessarily require sedation, but sedation is necessary in order for the patient to relax during treatment.

Sedation choices are administered in different ways and will vary by your anxiety level. You can speak with your dentist before your appointment about which one is right for you. Here are your options when it comes to sedation dentistry.

Low Anxiety: Laughing Gas (Nitrous Oxide)

You’ve certainly heard of laughing gas, which is one of the lightest forms of sedation. Its effects will wear off fairly quickly and you’ll be alert and conscious throughout the procedure, although you may not remember all of it. Laughing gas is ideal for patients who need to be able to drive themselves home after the procedure or return to work afterward.

Laughing gas may be a good fit for you if you feel uncomfortable with deeper levels of sedation and want to be as alert as possible throughout the procedure. However, you’ll still be relaxed and pain-free, making this form of sedation a good choice for people who suffer from low anxiety.

Moderate Anxiety: Oral Sedatives

If you suffer from moderate dental anxiety, oral sedatives may be a better choice for you. These are medications that you’ll take prior to your appointment, and include diazepam (Valium), zaleplon (Sonata), and lorazepam (Ativan). All of these are designed to take effect before you go to the dentist, so you’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you to and from the appointment.

Under this type of sedation, you’re still fully awake but your anxiety will be gone. You may feel relaxed and sleepy until the medication gets out of your system, and you may not remember your procedure very well. Your dentist can talk with you about which type of medication would be best and can arrange for a prescription prior to your appointment.

Severe Anxiety: General Anesthesia

For people with severe dental anxiety or dental phobia, general anesthesia may be the best option. Although general anesthesia is usually used to put people into a state of complete unconsciousness, your dentist will be able to control your level of unconsciousness to provide you with just the right level of sedation for your needs.

This type of anesthesia may be used for more intensive dental work. It’s done intravenously, so no oral sedatives or nitrous oxide will be used with this form of sedation. Although it provides the most calm during your appointment, it’s best reserved for people who have severe dental anxiety and need the highest level of sedation to relax and be comfortable during their time in the dentist chair.

Have you been putting off a dentist appointment because of your dental anxiety? You may benefit from dental sedation. Schedule a visit to talk with your dentist about the different types of sedation. From laughing gas to oral sedatives to general anesthesia, you could improve your experience at the dentist through the right type of dental sedation!

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Laser Dentistry Defined

Laser dentistry involves a laser—a very focused, intense beam of light—that can be focused in certain areas of your mouth. Laser dentistry is safe when practiced by a dentist who has sufficient experience in laser dentistry, so ask your dentist about his or her experience and credentials when you’re considering laser dentistry treatment. This beam of light is controlled by a machine, and you’ll be asked to wear eye protection while the treatment is underway. The laser causes a reaction in the tissues, whether they be hard or soft, that it is directed at. What are some of the common procedures that are accomplished with laser dentistry?

Procedures Laser Dentistry Is Used For

Laser dentistry can help with a variety of procedures. It can help with the treatment of gum disease by removing infected gum tissue and minimizing healing time for the patient. The laser is also able to remove gum tissue that is affecting wisdom teeth removal, or erupted wisdom teeth. In addition, people who have teeth that are covered by gums, sometimes called a “gummy” smile, can benefit from laser dentistry, as the laser can be used to remove the gum tissue that’s covering the teeth. Laser dentistry may also help with muscle attachment in the mouth or jaw that may be hindering speech for children. It can remove tumors, assist with treatment of TMJ by helping with jaw inflammation, and even help with teeth whitening procedures! The applications that laser dentistry can be used for are very versatile.

Patients Who May Benefit from Laser Dentistry

Patients who may be anxious about their dental treatment can be good candidates for laser dentistry. Your treatment may not require stitches or anesthesia, due to the fact that laser dentistry is relatively painless and minimizes the affected area in your mouth. There’s also decreased bleeding and risk for infection, because the laser will only be pointed at the area needing treatment. This means faster healing time for you! Laser dentistry can help ease anxieties and fears about receiving treatment when the treatment will be minimal and there’s less pain and risk for consequences after the procedure.

Laser dentistry has been approved by the FDA, but has not yet been accepted by the ADA, the American Dental Association. While laser dentistry has been around for a few years now and has been found to be versatile in the treatment of many dental ailments, find a dentist with experience that can perform laser dentistry for your next procedure!

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