Sedation Dentistry: What You Need to Know
Are you someone who experiences anxiety at the mere thought of having to visit the dentist? Or perhaps you have a medical condition that can make it difficult to sit through a dental procedure? Either way, you don’t have to sacrifice your oral health when our Columbus, OH, dentist has sedation dentistry services available.
Here’s what you need to know about dental sedation and how it can make a positive difference at your next appointment.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
is a branch of oral care that specializes in giving patients relief from stress and pain through some form of medication. Depending on your situation, you and Dr. Gibson may decide on any of the three sedation tactics which include , oral conscious (pill) sedation, and intravenous (IV). All three methods have their place within sedation dentistry, though your medical history and other unique factors will determine the right choice for you.
How Does Laughing Gas Work?
One of the easiest ways to utilize the effects of sedation is to breathe in laughing gas through a nasal mask. As you continue to breathe, your pain tolerance will increase and you will feel more at ease in just a few minutes. During your procedure, whether it’s a teeth cleaning or the placement of dental implants, you’ll remain conscious and will be able to follow verbal commands as needed.
Laughing gas carries the least risk compared to other dental sedation methods. For example, any side effects from the sedation stop once the nasal mask is removed. Your busy schedule doesn’t have to be interrupted by recovery time when you choose laughing gas. It’s perfectly fine to drive yourself home after the procedure and continue your day as usual.
Pill Sedation: What Is It?
Pill sedation requires a prescription, which can only be obtained after a discussion with Dr. Gibson. Once the medication is made available to you, you will be responsible for taking your pill an hour before your scheduled appointment. You will also have to abstain from food and drink for the 8 hours prior to your dental treatment; however, the timeframe is dependent on the drug that will be used.
Ingesting the pill will make you feel drowsy, but not tired enough to become fully unconscious. During your dental procedure, the medication will help alleviate physical and emotional discomfort. An important thing to remember with this method is that you will need transportation to and from your appointment as you won’t be able to drive yourself.
What is IV Sedation?
For , an IV line will be inserted into a vein in the crook of your arm. The IV line will provide a steady flow of medication that ensures your unconscious state for the entire procedure. You can feel safe and secure while in the dentist’s chair, knowing that you are receiving quality dental care without the stress and pain. We closely monitor your vital signs and ensure you are breathing properly through an oxygen mask.
After the procedure is complete, you will likely feel drowsy for a few hours. We recommend having someone take you home and avoiding anything strenuous for the next 24 hours so you can recover. Ultimately, IV sedation is best for those who have moderate to high dental anxiety, need a fair amount of work done, or have a strong gag reflex.
Take Control of Your Dental Anxiety
If you are interested in learning more about the sedation dentistry services we offer, please reach out to our dentist in Columbus, OH. We can go over additional details about each method and determine what’s best for you. Call Gibson Dental today at (614) 878-9562 to request an appointment.
This blog post has been updated.