Finally! You can now relax in your dentist’s chair and receive the most appropriate dental treatment you needed through sedation dentistry. Patients are under sedatives so they go through any type of dental procedure 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
This 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. This is safe even for kids, so they don’t have to fret whenever you take them to see 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. This is highly recommended for patients who need to undergo complex procedures that may take more than an hour. This method provides a deeper level of sedation, unlike nitrous oxide sedation. Although 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 method of sedation is through enteral, in the form of either liquid or a pill. This 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 going to the dentist, and one hour before the treatment. He needs to ask someone to take him to the clinic and drive him home after the procedure. Similar to IV sedation, dental professionals need to be certified before they can use oral sedation in their practice.
It’s important to note that oral and nitrous oxide sedation is administered in conjunction with local anesthesia. This is to ensure the patient does not feel any discomfort at all during the dental work. On one hand, patients who need a wisdom tooth extraction in Newmarket, Ontario may require a deep level of sedation.
Next time you visit your dentist, there’s no need to feel anxious in case he will require you to undergo a dental procedure. Talk to your dentist near you about your needs, and surely, he will make you comfortable every step of the way.