What Is Sedation Dentistry?
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. It’s sometimes called conscious sedation dentistry or “twilight sleep” because it creates a state of short-term amnesia (forgetfulness) where you experience insensitivity to pain without the loss of consciousness. It’s beneficial for people with dental anxiety or for those who are undergoing lengthy treatment.
What Is Dental Anxiety? How Can Sedation Dentistry Help?
Dental anxieties are quite common, and certainly no reason to be ashamed. Dental anxiety can be associated with the dental clinic setting or specific triggers like needles, drills, white coat syndrome, etc.
There are various reasons why these kinds of anxieties develop, including previous negative experiences with a dentist, extreme sensitivity or resistance to local anesthetics.
Luckily, there is something you can do to help you get the treatment you need. At Brito Family Dental, we believe that even extreme dental anxiety is manageable and shouldn’t be a barrier to receiving the care our patients need. With sedation, we are able to help keep patients calm for the duration of their dental treatments so they can get the necessary work completed quickly and efficiently and without enduring the anxiety or discomforts of the past.
Additionally, we use drugs that help to not only provide comfort during the procedure, but will also create a partially amnesic effect, which will make the whole experience a fuzzy memory!
Types of Sedation Dentistry
Here at Brito Family Dental, we offer a couple options for sedation depending on what is the right fit for you:
- Oral Conscious Sedation involves a prescription for sedative pills that are catered to you by the doctor. Sedative medication is typically given the night before to help you sleep, as well as the morning of your procedure to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.
- IV Sedation involves the intravenous administration of sedatives in order to put you in a diminished state of consciousness throughout the entire procedure. This also has other benefits for reducing post-operative swelling and pain!
Who Needs IV Sedation Dentistry? Is IV Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Anyone in good health can be a candidate for IV sedation dentistry, but it is an especially effective solution for patients who experience the following:
- Phobia of dental procedures
- Difficulty getting numb
- Sensitive teeth or oral nerves
- Complex dental issues
- Resistance to local anesthetic
- A small mouth that aches during dental work
- General anxiety disorder
- Gag reflex
IV sedation dentistry is very safe. Before receiving IV sedation, Dr. Brito will conduct a preliminary consultation. He will check your previous medical/oral history, medications you are taking, and allergies to determine your eligibility.
Some medical conditions, like hypertension, may require permission from your doctor before IV sedation can be administered. Dr. Brito also monitors your vital signs using state-of-the-art monitoring equipment throughout the treatment and while you are in the recovery room.
What Does IV Sedation Feel Like?
The sedative works to put you in a semi-conscious state, so you are unaware and unable to remember the events happening around you, although you can still respond to your dentist’s requests.
When the sedative takes effect, our patients generally feel extremely relaxed, similar to a dream-like state of mind. Following the procedure, most say they didn’t even realize how much time had passed and that their appointment was already over.
Before & After the Appointment
- Avoid eating or drinking 10 hours before your appointment.
- Take your normal medication with a sip of water, unless Dr. Brito instructs you otherwise.
- Do not smoke for 24 hours before your procedure.
- Wear comfortable clothing, but no jewelry, nail polish or contact lenses.
- Brush your teeth before your procedure.
There will be a short period where you will be allowed to recover and must be fully alert before you are released to your companion. You may feel a little drowsy when you come around, so you will need to take it easy for the rest of the day. Your companion will be responsible for driving you home.
It can take 24 hours for the medication to leave your body, so avoid alcohol and take any medication prescribed as directed. Also, avoid driving and strenuous activities for the rest of the day.
