Sedation dentistry is a comfort amenity that promotes a relaxed and positive experience for oral health treatments. Using sedatives and anesthetic medication greatly improves physical and emotional comfort – especially for longer, more invasive procedures like wisdom teeth removal, bone grafting, and the placement of dental implants. Our oral surgeon administers different kinds of sedation, each offering different types of benefits. The type a person receives will depend on their unique circumstances.
Sedation Dentistry for a Calm Mind
Many people suffer with heightened anxiety in dental and medical settings. Sedation dentistry can help alleviate intense feelings of worry, panic, and fear. This is because sedatives have a relaxing effect on the receptors that produce the chemical reactions responsible for emotions like fear and panic.
To treat dental phobia, a dental provider may prescribe an oral sedative. Those with less severe dental anxiety may benefit from nitrous oxide, a drug-free alternative to some instances where oral sedation may be applicable. Nitrous oxide is inhaled in gaseous form. Once it is no longer administered, its effects wear off within a couple minutes.
Sedation dentistry can make necessary oral healthcare more accessible to patients with dental anxiety. It can also help a fearful patient establish positive associations with treatment and trust in their oral healthcare provider.
Improved Physical Comfort
On top of having a calming effect on the mind, sedation dentistry can enhance physical comfort. Oral or IV-administered sedatives have a relaxing effect on the central nervous system. Moreover, sedatives can enhance the pain-relieving properties of other medications to maintain comfort during more invasive treatments like wisdom teeth removal and dental implant placement.
Oral and IV-administered sedatives typically result in such a relaxed mental and physical state that patients sleep throughout their treatment.
Nitrous oxide is also beneficial for increasing physical comfort. This compound is known for producing warm, slightly euphoric feelings because of its pain-relieving properties.
Give our practice a call if you have questions about an upcoming treatment such as wisdom teeth removal or receiving dental implants, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with our oral surgeon.