Many people are not able to relax during dental procedures. They feel anxious and nervous, while some people even have a phobia of going to the dentist’s. Of course, regular dental checkups and procedures are essential for everyone, but individuals who are not comfortable visiting the dentist can have a tough time keeping up. This is where a sedation dentist comes in. The dentist will sedate you based on the level of anxiety you experience.
If you feel uncomfortable, nervous, anxious or downright scared during dental procedures, sedation dentistry can help you relax. Before you talk to your dentist about it, it is a good idea to know a few things:
Levels of Sedation
There are four levels of sedation used by a sedation dentist:
Minimal Sedation
This sedation is used for making patients feel relaxed. The patient is fully awake during the procedure but does not feel as nervous.
Moderate Sedation
This sedation is used for patients who get anxious during a procedure. It keeps you conscious, but you will hardly remember the procedure or how long it took.
Deep Sedation
If you are in deep sedation, you are almost unconscious, but can easily be awakened. This is used for patients who suffer from a severe case of anxiety.
General Anesthesia
Patients who have a phobia of dental procedures have to be administered anesthesia to ensure the procedure goes according to plan. General anesthesia puts you under.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
There are many benefits of opting for sedation dentistry. Not only does sedation or sleep dentistry help patients, but also dentists. Let’s look at some benefits of sedation dentistry:
Comfort during Long Procedures
Many dental procedures take a long time to complete. Sitting in a dental chair for several minutes or even hours is rather uncomfortable. This is why sedation dentistry helps you stay comfortable throughout the procedure.
Time Conservation
There are times when a single procedure requires multiple dental visits from you just because it will take that long. These procedures need to be broken down into stages. But if you are under sedation, you will not feel uncomfortable and the procedure can be carried out in one long go.
Accuracy of Treatment
There are times when patients are quite anxious and do not cooperate with the dentist. A sedation dentist can deliver proper treatment by alleviating the patient’s anxiety by administering sedation. If you feel you need to be put under or at ease when undergoing dental checkups or procedures, discuss it with your dentist right away.