Regular oral health appointments are an essential part of protecting your mouth from painful and destructive infections, but many people may neglect to schedule dental visits due to being fearful or anxious. Fortunately, many dentists can use sedation dentistry techniques to help make appointments easier for those who are anxious or who deal with other issues that can make dental care difficult. Here’s a quick look at how sedation dentistry works and who it can help.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry can be an excellent option for many patients who deal with issues such as:
- Anxiety
- Difficulty sitting still
- Being scheduled for especially long treatment sessions
- Discomfort when holding the mouth open
- Difficulty achieving the desired effects of local anesthetics
- An unusually sensitive gag reflex.
However, dental sedation is not for everyone. To make sure that you’re an excellent candidate, your dentist will review and discuss your medical history and list of medications with you during your consultation at their office.
How Does Dental Sedation Work?
Your dentist may offer dental sedation options like:
- Nitrous oxide: Also called “laughing gas,” this colorless, odorless gas has been used to safely reduce dental patient’s sensitivity to discomfort and put them at ease for almost two centuries. This treatment is so noninvasive and side-effect-free that you can expect to be able to drive yourself home or back to work or school afterward.
- Oral conscious sedation: This treatment involves your dentist prescribing a small pill to be taken before your scheduled dental appointment. This drug will reduce your sensitivity to pain and induce a sense of calm, and you will remain able to respond to questions and instructions. However, you will need to arrange for a trusted individual to drive you to and from the practice and keep an eye on you for a few hours while the sedative effects wear off.
Don’t let dental anxiety set you up for miserable oral infections that can lead to permanent tooth loss. Consulting with your dentist can help you understand if sedation treatments are right for you.
About the Practice
Dentistry for Life offers the finest oral health services in Lancaster. Led by Drs. Jason Herres and Vincent Votilla, the staff treats each patient with compassion, courtesy, and exemplary customer service. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry as well as sedation services. If you’d like to know more about sedation dentistry, contact the office on the web or dial (717) 569-3911.