Know Your Options For Sedation Dentistry
Are you looking for a way to help get through a dental procedure? If so, know that there are several forms of sedation that can be used by their dentist. Here is an overview of what you need to know about the following four options.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation refers to a medication that you take at home prior to your dental procedure. Your dentist will give you a prescription for the medication that you can pick up at your local pharmacy, so it does take some planning to make sure that you have it ready before the day of your procedure.
One reason why people use oral sedation is that they have a fear of going to the dentist. The medication makes them feel more relaxed and can simply help them go to the dental office for their procedure. However, it does require the help of someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment, since the medication can cause you to be sleepy.
Nitrous Oxide
An incredibly safe form of dental sedation is nitrous oxide, which requires you to wear a mask over your nose so that you can breathe in the gas and become more relaxed. The biggest benefit of nitrous oxide is that it takes effect and wears off very quickly. This means that you can actually drive to and from the dental office without the assistance of another person. However, a side effect of nitrous oxide is nausea, which may or may not apply to you.
IV Sedation
It is common to use IV sedation for more complex dental procedures, such as removing wisdom teeth. It works by injecting a medication into your bloodstream, which is done by placing a needle in your arm. The dentist can then control the amount of medication that you receive to make you more or less responsive during the procedure. In general, people do not remember much about the procedure when they use IV sedation which can make them totally relaxed for a longer procedure.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is a form of sedation where the patient is in a deep sleep during a dental procedure. It is not recommended unless it is absolutely necessary but can be the only way for a dental procedure to be performed. For example, general anesthesia can be used for a special needs patient that needs to remain still during a dental procedure if other forms of dental sedation will not work for them.
Reach out to a family dental clinic to learn more.
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