Dental Sedation: It’s Not Just for Nervous People

| August 22, 2017

Dental SedationThere are plenty of misconceptions about sedation dentistry. For starters, some people think sedation is primarily used on patients with dental phobias. While we do use sedation to calm our anxious patients’ nerves, sedation has far more uses than that.

Who Can Benefit from Dental Sedation?

Dental sedation is a great option for our (non-nervous) patients who are experiencing one of the following:

  • Running Short on Time. For our patients who are especially busy, it can be a real effort to get in to our office. That problem is only compounded when our busy patients require work that takes place over several appointments—multiple fillings, for example. With dental sedation, we can get more work done in less time! This makes it an ideal option for patients who can only squeeze one visit into their busy schedule.
  • Longer Dental Appointment. Dental appointments can take over an hour, particularly if you require extensive dental work. Now imagine being reclined in a dental chair with your mouth open for a few hours. Doesn’t sound too enjoyable, does it? In cases like these, patients may want to opt for sedation. The effects of sedation will help them to remain comfortable for longer stretches of time.
  • Wisdom Teeth Removal. In your utter fearlessness, you may not feel nervous at all about having your wisdom teeth removed. After all, it is a very common and safe procedure. However, even if you don’t feel fear around the thought of having your wisdom teeth removed, we almost always recommend being sedated while they’re removed. Because the procedure is so lengthy and involved, we often require sedation to make the procedure easier for you and the doctor.

What Can I Expect During Dental Sedation?

We offer multiple sedation options, and your experience will vary depending on which type of sedation you receive. During mild sedation (local anesthesia), we’ll deliver the numbing agent directly to the area being worked on, and you’ll experience numbness in the affected area for about 3-4 hours.

Nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, is used during moderate sedation to help our patients achieve a relaxed, conscious state. There are many advantages to using nitrous oxide, one being that it starts working immediately, and can be adjusted in real-time. There are no lingering effects to this sedation technique, allowing you to get on with your normal day directly following your procedure.

Our final type of sedation is a great alternative to simply taking a sedative in pill form, as the strength and duration of effects vary from patient to patient. We offer IV sedation, which is delivers the exact dosage necessary for your particular procedure. You’ll be completely relaxed but have no memory of the procedure—all without being put under.

Regardless of the type of sedation you experience, you’ll feel like your usual self again that same day. None of our sedation methods have long-lasting effects. And speaking of long-lasting effects, have you been keeping up on your dental care? If you’ve been a little lax on regular checkups, now’s a great time to schedule your appointment with Grandview Dental and experience sedation dentistry for yourself!