Why Sedation Dentistry Is the Best Choice for Patients with Dental Phobia?

Why Sedation Dentistry Is the Best Choice for Patients with Dental Phobia?

June 1, 2023

Do you feel scared of the dentist? If so, you join 36 percent of the global population fearful of dental visits, even for routine exams and cleanings. You have what is commonly called dental phobia, affecting millions of people in Canada and worldwide.

Although you may have information your oral health is crucial for your total well-being, dental phobia may prevent you from visiting your dentist frequently. Your reluctance can result in significant health problems way beyond your teeth and gums.

Do not think nothing can make you overcome dental phobia because dentists have discovered sedation dentistry to help you relax during dental appointments by conquering your dental anxiety. This blog teaches you about sedation dentistry, its types, and how it helps overcome dental phobia. Please stay reading to educate yourself.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is a technique that helps you overcome dental anxiety, fear of the dentist, and phobia. The medications and methods help alleviate stress and pain during dental procedures, ensuring you receive the excellent dental care you deserve.

Sedation dentistry offers pain-free dentistry because you experience no discomfort after being sedated by the dentist with medications to calm your mind and is especially useful if you suffer from dental anxiety and fear, need extensive procedures simultaneously, or must undergo oral surgery. Local anesthesia is also required with sedation dentistry depending on your dental procedure.

Different Kinds of Sedation Dentistry

There are three versions of sedation dentistry. Namely nitrous oxide, oral Sedation, and IV Sedation. Let us delve into all three to help you understand which option best suits your needs.

  • Nitrous Oxide: nitrous oxide, a popular form of Sedation, is the mildest version of sedation dentistry. It is also called laughing gas, and after you inhale the gas through a face mask, you start feeling relaxed and euphoric within two minutes. The odourless and non-irritable gas does not harm your nose and lungs and dissipates from your body within 3 to 5 minutes after your dentist removes the mask. You can drive home after your dental appointment without needing help from others.
  • Oral Sedation: oral conscious Sedation involves ingesting medications like tranquillizers, muscle relaxants, and antianxiety drugs to decrease activity in your brain or nervousness and movement that might disrupt the dentist’s work. Oral Sedation relaxes you with a calming effect making you feel happy. However, it won’t make you fall asleep or render you unconscious because you remain responsive to queries by the dentist even after ingesting the drugs. You must take oral Sedation before your appointment and occasionally during. However, you will need help to drive home if you receive this version because the sedatives make you incapable of driving or operating machinery.
  • IV Sedation: IV sedation is deep and administered directly into a vein in your arm by an anesthesiologist. Depending on your anxiety levels, the anesthesiologist administers a level of sedative that corresponds to it. As a result, you will experience sleepiness during your procedure or feel sleepy while remaining conscious to respond to requests by the dentist. Unfortunately, driving yourself back is impossible, making it essential to arrange transportation by having a family member or friend with you.

Is Sedation Dentistry Effective?

Yes, sedation dentistry in Mississauga, ON, has helped many to overcome dental anxiety and their fears of the dentist. However, the success rate of sedation dentistry varies between patients and the version of Sedation used by the dentist.

Which Type of Sedation Best Suits Your Needs?

Every patient does not need sedation dentistry because it is beneficial for patients with a dislike for shots, needles, or noises at the dentist’s office, people with a strong gag reflex, and people facing challenges sitting still in the dentist’s chair during dental appointments because of fear and anxiety.

Oral conscious Sedation with local anesthesia is your best option if you must undergo intensive procedures like dental implants, root canals, tooth extractions, et cetera.

On the other hand, if a visit to your dentist’s office for checkups and cleanings scares you, you will benefit from nitrous oxide because of these at which it takes effect and dissipates. However, if you need intensive surgical procedures like full mouth rehabilitation, the dentist in mississauga will recommend IV sedation as the optimal option.

Do you fall into all the categories described when you fear visiting the dentist? If so, Sherwood Forrest Dental is happy to offer you dental Sedation to help you overcome dental anxiety and care for your dental health. Therefore schedule a free consultation to discuss your dental anxiety and start receiving essential dental care from them as soon as possible.