Finally! You can now relax in your dentist’s chair and receive the most appropriate dental treatment you need through sedation dentistry. Patients are under sedatives, so they undergo dental procedures without feeling anxious. Sedation has tremendously helped a lot of patients achieve optimal oral health. There are different levels of sedation that dentists use depending on the level of anxiety of each patient.
- Minimal sedation
- Moderate or conscious sedation
- Deep sedation
3 methods of sedation Dentist nitrous oxide sedation
It is a minimal level of sedation where the patient inhales nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. The dentist controls the dosage once he administers nitrous oxide sedation. Once the patient inhales laughing gas, sedation immediately kicks in, making the patient feel at ease and comfortable undergoing the procedure. It is safe even for kids, so they don’t have to fret whenever you visit their dentist. Also, the gas goes through a machine, so kids don’t have to think about needles. Most dentists are certified to administer this type of sedation.
Intravenous sedation
In IV sedation dentistry, the sedative is directly injected into the patient’s veins, and the effects take immediately within seconds. The patient is less aware of the dental procedure performed by his dentist. It is highly recommended for patients who must undergo complex procedures that may take more than an hour. This method provides a deeper level of sedation, unlike nitrous oxide sedation. However, the patient is easily awakened by a gentle shake. Dental clinics need additional certification before they can use this method of sedation.
Enteral or oral sedation
The other sedation method is through enteral, in the form of either liquid or a pill. It is a moderate level of sedation dentistry in Newmarket where the patient remains conscious throughout the dental work yet less anxious. In this method, the patient takes the pill or liquid a day before the dentist and one hour before the treatment. He must ask someone to take him to the clinic and drive him home after the procedure. Like IV sedation, dental professionals need to be certified before using oral sedation in their practice.
It’s important to note that oral and nitrous oxide sedation is administered with local anesthesia. It is to ensure the patient does not feel any discomfort at all during the dental work. On the one hand, patients needing a wisdom tooth extraction in Newmarket, Ontario, may require deep sedation.
Next time you visit our dentist, there’s no need to feel anxious if he requires you to undergo a dental procedure. Talk to our dentist near you about your needs; he will make you comfortable at every step.