If the mere thought of someone getting into your teeth to clean it up makes you incredibly anxious, you're not alone. Many people would rather endure the agony of their toothache rather than step into the dentist's office. However, the truth of the matter is that such visits are essential to ensure the mouth is in good shape. Fortunately, there are methods in which dentists now employ to reduce some of that anxiety. One of those methods is sedation.

What Exactly Is Sedation?

In dentistry, sedation is a process in which a dentist administers medication to help patients relax during a dental procedure. As such, sedation dentistry is also commonly referred to as sleep dentistry. However, not all sedation techniques cause the patients to sleep, except for those put through general anesthesia. Those with minimal, moderate, and deep sedation are still conscious throughout the process, albeit sleepier and sleepier the heavier the sedation.

What Kind of Sedation Is Used?

There are a few types of sedation used in sedation dentistry. The first is referred to as inhaled minimal sedation. Here, you breathe in nitrous oxide combined with oxygen, helping you relax. The amount of nitrous oxide you breathe in is controlled by the dentist, and more often than not, the gas wears off quickly.

The next type of sedation is oral sedation, where a dose ranging from minimal to moderate is given. If minimal is the route taken, you will ingest a pill an hour before the procedure. For a more moderate dose, a larger dose is given. This is the type of anesthesia that's common in sedation dentistry. In fact, you might even fall asleep during the procedure, although with a little shake, you will be awakened.

Another way moderate sedation can be administered is through an IV solution. As you might have guessed, this technique injects the drug right into the veins, allowing the effects to kick in quickly. 

Finally, the last type of sedation is deep sedation and general anesthesia. These types of medication will render you near unconscious or in a deep sleep, where you won't be easily awakened until the drugs wear off or you are administered medication to counteract the effects.

Who Is Allowed to Get Sedated?

Typically, sedation is reserved for those with fear or anxiety towards dentistry. Such fears might be stopping them from visiting a dentist, and sedation is there to help calm them down.

That said, they aren't the only ones that can be sedated. Those who have a low pain threshold, cannot sit still in the dentist's chair, have a bad gag reflex, have susceptible teeth, and need a lot of work down also can be sedated.

Conclusion

If you are afraid of going to the dentist but are interested in this whole idea of sedation, feel free to contact your dentist. More often than not, they will at least be qualified to administer the lighter side of sedation, allowing you to feel relaxed throughout the process. Remember, they want to ensure your mouth is in good shape, and if sedation is required to help you get that, they will do so. Just keep in mind that not all dentists are qualified to administer sedation, so take the time to look for ones that are qualified so that you can be sedated as needed to get through with your dental procedure.

G-Dental32 offers dental services in Denver that cover oral dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, and more. If you are looking for sedation dentistry, contact us today!