Answering Some of the Most Common Questions About Sedation Dentistry

If you’re someone who’d rather be anywhere else in the world than the dentist’s office, then you aren’t alone! In fact, it’s estimated that roughly 9 – 20% of US adults are affected with “dentophobia.” Because of this, sedation dentistry has emerged as one of the most popular solutions for treating this! Keep reading as we answer a few of the most common questions concerning sedation dentistry and talk about why it’s a great answer for dental-related anxiety, among other things!

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Dentists have access to several safe, non-habit-forming medicines and drugs they can use to help patients relax before and during dental procedures. Sedation dentistry involves sedating the patient to relieve any fear or anxiety they might have and to make their treatment process go as smoothly as possible.

Although sedation dentistry has a ton of different applications and uses, it’s not for everyone—as with any type of dental procedure, your dentist will need to evaluate your health beforehand. Patients with conditions that make breathing difficult or patients with allergies to specific medications are not candidates. Patients who are pregnant are also not eligible. Your dentist will be able to determine if sedation dentistry is right for you—and for most people, it is a viable option!

What Are the Benefits of Receiving Sedation Dentistry?

Some of the awesome benefits of sedation dentistry include, but aren’t limited to:

• Provides relief for dental-related anxiety.
• Helps patients with sensitive gag reflexes.
• Useful for lengthy or complex procedures.
• Assists those who struggle to remain sitting for a long time.
• Provides pain relief.

What Types of Sedation Dentistry Are There?

Sedation dentistry is actually an umbrella term that encompasses different types of sedation methods, with a few common ones including:

• Nitrous oxide – Typically for milder cases of anxiety, the patient is given nitrous oxide (laughing gas). This causes feelings of euphoria and blocks pain, but you’ll still be conscious and responsive to commands. It wears off very quickly after the appointment, too.
• Oral conscious sedation – This involves the use of oral medication before the appointment combined with nitrous oxide. It provides a deeper level of relaxation than solely using nitrous oxide.
• IV sedation – This is ideal for lengthy or complex procedures; a sedative is delivered directly into your bloodstream, providing the deepest level of relaxation possible. This leads to most patients actually sleeping during their treatment process!

Even though it truly shines when it comes to combating dental-related anxiety, sedation dentistry has several awesome applications that can help patients comfortably achieve brighter and healthier smiles!

About the Practice

The team at Lincoln Park is thrilled to serve patients and families in the Dallas, TX area under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Barnett. He has several years of experience in offering a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative options. They’re also proud to offer sedation dentistry. If you have any questions about sedation dentistry or would like to arrange a visit, you can contact the practice online or by phone for assistance: (214) 691-2614.