What is Sedation Dentistry?

Dental anxiety and phobias are very real problems that prevent many people from getting proper dental care. These people are at a higher risk for developing various dental problems such as cavities, tooth decay, severe gum disease, and tooth loss. Sedation dentistry be used to relieve feelings of anxiety so these individuals can get dental care to maintain or improve their oral health.

A Closer Look at Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry is the use of techniques, such as oral sedatives, and moderate IV sedation, to temporarily relieve anxiety. Depending upon the type of sedation used, patients who opt to use sedation dentistry will feel calm and relaxed before and during any dental procedure.

Because each person is unique in terms of how fearful or anxious they feel about visiting the dentist, there are several sedation options available to patients. Offering several different levels of sedation allows the sedation dentist to provide customized care that specifically meets your individual needs.

The following are examples of common types of sedation dentistry:

• Oral sedation – A mild or moderate form of sedation that requires taking a prescribed sedative before your procedure. This form of sedation significantly relaxes you yet keeps you conscious. However, you usually have little or no memory of the actual procedure.
• IV sedation – Moderate sedation is generally used for longer procedures such as tooth extractions or root canals or for patients with extreme dental anxiety. This form of sedation places you in a “twilight sleep” where you are still conscious and can be woken up, yet you are not aware of what is going on around you.

Sedation Does Not Provide Pain Management

Dental sedation is focused solely upon providing anxiety relief. It doesn’t provide relief from pain associated with various dental procedures. In order to prevent you from experiencing any pain, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area where dental work will occur.

Determining What Level of Sedation is Right for You

A number of factors are considered when determining what level of sedation to use for an upcoming dental procedure. Factors such as anxiety levels, previous health history, length of appointment, and the type of procedure being done will be considered before determining which type of sedation to use. Our dentists will take all of these factors into consideration and discuss your options with you during your free consultation. In addition, they will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision regarding which type of sedation dentistry to use for your upcoming procedure.

Want to learn more about sedation dentistry in Charlotte or see if it can help relieve your dental anxiety? Contact Cedar Walk Dentistry today to schedule an appointment for your consultation.