| By :
Stephen Daniels
A dentist's office doesn't have to be a scary place, but unfortunately, many people postpone or avoid making necessary dental appointments due to a bad childhood experience, fear of needles, or what is commonly referred to as dental phobia. As many know, routine dental work can prevent much more extensive and painful work at a later date. If painful work is required, the stress level can be reduced substantially. Many dentists these days offer sedation dentistry as a way to make those office visits easier on patients. Sedation dentistry can be used in a wide variety of dental procedures, from a simple cleaning, to a root canal or extraction. It is used, not only to limit the actual physical discomfort associated with a procedure, but also to address the general phobia that a patient might have. It is a good alternative to get people who really fear going into the office for a cleaning or other necessary procedures. There are four different types of sedation, and each is useful for specific anesthetic and psychological needs. Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a well-known and widely used sedative that induces a general sense of well-being and relaxation in the patient. Nitrous oxide is generally considered a light sedative. Once the patient is relaxed, a local anesthetic can be administered to limit pain for more intense procedures. The down side to this sedation is that some people have adverse reactions to this gas. Oral sedatives, sometimes called sleep dentistry but more accurately termed "conscious sedation," is now the most widely used method to reduce anxiety in the dental office. Dentists generally prefer patients to be awake so they are responsive. With this method, the patient will feel sleepy throughout the office visit, but will not actually lose consciousness. The sedative can be given 30 minutes to an hour before an appointment, and can be used with a local anesthetic depending upon the specific procedure being performed. Intravenous (IV) sedation has similar effects as oral tranquilizers, in that the patient can remain conscious in a state of deep relaxation throughout the office visit. However, the sedative is applied through an IV, and a local anesthetic may also be necessary to eliminate pain. It is used in the same types of procedures as either nitrous oxide or oral sedatives, but must be administered by the dentist and monitored throughout the procedure. Deep sedation, in the form of general anesthesia, is also available in some offices. However the patient will not be able to interact with the staff, and may need assistance with breathing if there are issues keeping his or her airway open. General anesthesia is reserved for in-depth oral surgery because of the inherent potential complications that can arise with this method. Whether you are in need of a good cleaning, or are undergoing a more complex procedure, sedation dentistry can help relieve the stress of going to the dentist. Don't let your anxiety keep you from having a healthy beautiful smile.
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