Dental check-ups are extremely important for maintaining oral health. Healthy teeth and hygiene are important to prolong the health of your teeth. However, most of us dread the pain that comes associated with dental treatments, be it root canals or cavities. In most cases, however, patients are given sedatives to help ease the discomfort and to divert the phobia of dental trips.

Oral Sedatives

Oral sedatives can be used to ease the discomfort and fear that you face from going to a dental appointment. It can be used to make you more relaxed during different types of procedures.

Relaxers like Diazepam are the most commonly used. You will be advised to take these a night before your actual procedure or in extreme cases, about thirty to forty minutes prior to the treatment. Oral sedatives, however, do not provide any relief from pain and thus you might need to supplement it with a local anesthetic to ease discomfort.

Intravenous Sedation

Intravenous sedation is delivered to the body through the veins. It can cause you to fall into a deep sleep and be completely unaware of the procedure taking place. Similar to oral sedatives, this does not provide pain relief and hence is usually paired with local anesthesia. It is an anti-anxiety medication. If you opt for the intravenous method you will be given oxygen through nasal tubes and your vitals will be monitored closely throughout the procedure. The medications used for intravenous sedation include ketamine and Fentanyl.

Nitrous Oxide or Laughing Gas Sedation

This sedation technique has become incredibly popular among dental patients. Nitrous oxide is also called laughing gas and is administered through the nasal tube, which puts the patient in an extremely relaxed state. This sedation technique also has numbing properties, so it’s like a combination of anesthesia and sedation in one, which makes it the most commonly used method of sedation.

Sedation is the right option for you if you face issues like:

  • Anxiety or fearfulness
  • Low threshold to pain
  • Fear of needles
  • A traumatizing experience in the past
  • Sensitivity in gums or teeth
  • Shaky hands and feet or fidgety body movements
  • Complicated problems relating to the teeth or gums

You have four levels of sedation to choose from depending on the severity of the condition. Anxiolysis is the lightest form of sedation and it’s usually induced using nitrous oxide. The second level of sedation is conscious sedation in which the inducers used are the laughing gas or IV drip.

The next levels of sedation are deep sedation which can be done through an Intravenous supply of Nitrous oxide and ultimately unconsciousness which is done only if you are undergoing any form of oral surgery. Discuss your fears and phobias with your dentist so that he can administer the correct amount and type of sedation to ease your discomforts.

Contact Our Office

Contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dan Miller, a skilled cosmetic dentist, to learn more about the sedation options open to you. With his help, you will feel more confident and comfortable during your treatment.