3 Methods of Sedation Dentistry
Oral surgery can be fear-inducing and can make you want to avoid dental care altogether. Avoiding necessary oral surgery can lead to severe consequences, and puts your oral, and overall, health at risk. At Rockwall Oral Surgery, we offer sedation dentistry to our patients.
Sedation dentistry helps you feel calm, relaxed and at ease during dental procedures. It’s a moderate level of sedation, so you’re still technically awake but feeling very carefree. Sedation helps you experience insensitivity to pain without the loss of consciousness. All three methods have their perks and use within dentistry, so let’s go over what makes them all unique.
Oral Sedation
With oral sedation, your dentist gives you sedative medication, often in a pill form, before the procedure begins. Several types of oral sedation pills are most often used among dentists including triazolam, diazepam, zaleplon, and lorazepam. For children, dentists will often use liquid sedation instead of using a pill.
Oral sedation makes you groggy and sleepy, but you are still able to communicate if necessary. Because oral sedation affects your motor skills, it is advised to have a buddy accompany you to the procedure so that you can be safely transported home.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
More popularly known as “laughing gas,” is inhaled through a mask or nosepiece to relax the patient. The effects begin within three to five minutes of being inhaled. Your dentist is responsible for the amount of sedation and can adjust the dosages accordingly depending on the patient throughout the procedure. Laughing gas can be used for most procedures, from teeth cleanings to root canals.
Once the procedure or surgery is over, the dentist will then flush out the nitrous oxide with pure oxygen. Nitrous oxide leaves the system rather quickly, so you can walk and even drive yourself home after the procedure.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is the most intense form of sedation available as the dentist delivers the sedative directly to your bloodstream through an IV. During the procedure, your dentist will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and your oxygen levels and will adjust the dosage at any point in the procedure.
Most patients who receive IV sedation fall asleep heavily and have almost no memory of their treatment upon waking up. This option is often referred to as the best option for people with severe dental anxiety or if the procedure is going to be long.
Is Sedation Right for You?
You can feel safe and secure while at Rockwell Oral Surgery, knowing that you are receiving quality dental care without the stress and pain. Contact us today at (469) 264-8921, or leave us a message to set up your appointment to discuss dental implants!
