Do you suffer from dental phobia? If so, you may have avoided going to the dentist for a long time. Patients who have neglected their teeth due to dental phobia may be able to receive treatment while being sedated. This is known as sedation dentistry. Procedures such as teeth cleaning, root canal treatment, or fitting crowns and bridges can be carried out under sedation. If you’re searching for a dentist who can provide crowns and bridges in Richmond with the option of being sedated, don’t hesitate to contact Bright Work-Family Dentistry.
What is Sedation Dentistry
If the thought of going to the dentist or having your teeth professionally cleaned and polished makes your body tense in fear, you may have a phobia. The good news is that dentists are becoming more aware of their patients’ needs, and many of them offer sedation for nervous patients. If you would rather put up with a severe toothache, then visit the dentists, you are not alone. Many people refuse to have dental treatment due to this fear.
Sedation dentistry can reduce the fear of people who have phobias by lowering their anxiety. Dentists can offer sedation for all types of treatments from invasive procedures such as fillings or having bridges or crowns fitted to something as simple as tooth cleaning. It all depends on the severity of the patient’s fear.
The dentist will give you medication if you’re a nervous patient, which will help you to relax. Sedation dentistry is often known as sleep dentistry, but patients who are sedated aren’t totally asleep. You’ll still be aware of what is happening to you.
Types of Sedation
There are four types of sedation that dentists can use. These are minimal sedation, where the patient is awake but feels more relaxed, and this allows the dentist to carry out the necessary treatment. This type of sedation is also called laughing gas, you’ll be asked to inhale nitrous oxide, through a mask. Your dentist will be able to control how much sedation you are given. This type of sedation will wear off quickly, and you might even be able to drive yourself home after treatment.
Moderate sedation, which is also called conscious sedation, is for patients with greater fear. You’ll still be conscious and might not remember much about the procedure. This type of sedation is given orally. You’ll be asked to take a pill about an hour before treatment is carried out. This will make you drowsy and help you to relax.
For patients who have severe dental phobia or a fear of needles, there is a choice of either deep sedation or General anesthesia. If you’re given deep sedation, you’ll be asleep, but can be easily awoken. Patients who opt to have general anesthesia will be completely unconscious.
Whichever sedation your dentist gives you, you’ll probably also need a local anesthetic, depending on the treatment that’s being carried out. This is a medication that will numb your gums. It is injected near the teeth that the dentist is working on and will help to relieve any pain.
