Visiting the
dentist isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of a great time. Although some people can
handle the physical discomforts of their dentist appointment very well, for
others, dentist appointments can cause immense anxiety, especially if they are
expecting to undergo a more strenuous dental procedure than most. Most dental
patients will not need any form of sedation- only during the more painful,
extensive, or invasive procedures. However, some patients, even when their
appointments are for a routine dental cleaning, may need to have some form of
sedation administered to them.
Depending on the
reason for the sedation, the level and type of sedation will be administered
accordingly. For example, general anesthesia, the use of which renders the
patient unconscious, is quite unnecessary for patients who only need light
sedation for their sensitive teeth during dental cleanings. If you ever need
sedation at the dentist, you can expect to be sedated by one of the following:
·
Nitrous oxide, or as it more
commonly known, “laughing gas”, is a type of sedation that is delivered through
inhalation via a mask placed over the nose. The dentist is able to control the
amount of nitrous oxide that is delivered to each patient. Since the effects of
nitrous oxide wears of much quicker than other forms of sedation, patients will
be able to drive themselves home after a procedure using nitrous oxide.
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·
Oral sedation is a type of
sedation that is delivered orally via a pill and is the most common form of
sedation used by dentists today. The oral sedation pill, which goes by the
formal name “Halcion”, is taken about an hour before the procedure and will
make patients drowsy, and at times, drowsy enough to fall asleep during the
procedure. Greater levels of sedation can be administered through higher
dosages. Patients will not be able to drive themselves home after the
administration of oral sedation.
·
IV sedation is a type of
sedation that is delivered intravenously so that it can react quickly. The
intravenous delivery of drugs, medicinal or otherwise, is the second quickest
way to deliver drugs to the body. Intravenous sedation will allow the sedation dentist to continuously
monitor the dosage level throughout the procedure. Patients will be unable to
drive themselves home after IV sedation.
·
General
anesthesia
is a type of sedation that can be delivered intravenously or by inhalation. You
can often request your preference; otherwise the anesthesiologist will make the
selection for you. General anesthesia will render you complete unconscious and
unable to be easily wakened until the sedation wears off. A slightly milder
form of general anesthesia is known as “deep sedation”, in which you are on the
edge of consciousness. You will not be able to drive yourself home after either
general anesthesia or deep sedation.






