A significant amount of patients, young and old, tend to feel nervous about dental work. Fortunately, modern advancements in dental technology and methodology prioritize the comfort of their patients. So they have specific medications that can address anxiety during dental procedures.
These treatments are known as dental sedation. But some people will also feel hesitant about additional medicines from their dentist.
Knowing more about these treatments can make you feel more at ease in the dentist’s chair. So read on to learn more about what you can expect from sedation dentistry available at your periodontist’s office.
What Does Dental Sedation Do?
Dental sedation refers to a type of medicine that a dentist or periodontist can offer that will induce a feeling of calm in the patient. Dentists can deliver this medicine in a number of ways depending on your preference. You can talk to your dental professional about dental sedation offered via oral tablet or by IV.
Then the dental sedation will generate a feeling of relaxation in the patient. This can help nervous patients feel less tense and therefore have a more pleasant experience in the dental chair. Sedation will also create a groggy feeling that may impact the state of consciousness though they will remain awake.
Also, if patients have a strong gag reflex, dental work can be difficult, and sedation can lessen this problem. You may worry about pain management for dental work, but other treatments, like anesthetics, will work toward this concern. To learn more details about this treatment, talk to your dentist.
How Long Will Sedation Effects Last?
Some people might worry about the lingering effects of sedation after their dentist appointment. The length of the sedation can vary depending on the type of medicine you choose.
Oral sedation, for instance, should be taken before your appointment so that the effects begin at the dentist’s office. But because the recovery is not controlled, you might still feel drowsy at the end of your dental work. For this reason, you will need someone to drive you home afterward as the effects wear off.
IV sedation includes a quicker recovery with medicine delivered intravenously. The most prominent effects will then fade not long after you stop receiving the sedation. But you should still expect to feel somewhat sleepy for the rest of the day.
Is Dental Sedation Safe?
Your dentist or periodontist has the licenses and training necessary to administer sedation properly to their patients. Therefore, this dental treatment is safe for patients of any age to use. Though to make sure this option will suit your unique needs, the dentist will consider your medical history before providing it.
If you worry about the control of the substances, you should ask your dentist for details about the treatment. IV sedation will involve more customized and adjustable doses than oral sedation will. So consider these factors when you determine which sedation dentistry treatment will work best for you.