Sedation Clinics
Sedation dentistry can be an absolute lifesaver for patients with dental anxiety—by safely administering comforting sedatives, we can put you completely at ease for the duration of your appointment. This can allow nervous patients to get everything from routine care to complex procedures that may not ordinarily be possible for them.
However, people who learn about sedation dentistry for the first time often have questions about what it entails. In the interest of preventing even further anxiety, here are answers to some common questions you might have.
What Kinds of Sedation Are There?
Dentists use a wide variety of sedatives for their patients, but in modern dentistry, some are more common than others. Nitrous Oxide, aka laughing gas, is one you’re probably familiar with—this is administered to patients through a mask, which allows the dentist to completely control the flow of the sedative. Among the drugs used often in dentistry, this tends to be the weakest.
Then there’s IV sedation, which is fairly self-explanatory. Allowing the sedative to flow directly into the bloodstream means that it works quickly. It’s also significantly stronger than nitrous oxide, making it perfect for patients with severe anxiety.
How Does Sedation Feel?
When you hear about the drugs used in dentistry you might be tempted to think of general anesthesia, but the fact is that it’s incredibly rare for dentists to put their patients completely to sleep. This is because it’s usually important for a patient to be able to follow the dentist’s instructions during a procedure.
Instead, dental sedatives of various strengths aim to put the patient at ease, to relax them, but not to knock them out. That said, it’s not uncommon for IV sedation patients to fall asleep during the procedure just because of how calm they are.
Is Sedation Safe?
To administer any kind of sedative, dentists have to undergo rigorous training and certification to demonstrate their ability to use the drugs safely. That being the case, complications from these drugs are exceedingly rare when used in a dental context, even in the case of more powerful sedatives.
Nitrous oxide in particular is a time-tested, reliable method of sedation that’s even safe enough to be used on children! That means that you have nothing to worry about when it comes to the safety of sedatives.
About Our Practice
At Dental Wellness of Lexington, we’re always focused on the quality of care that our patients receive, and we do everything we can to ensure that they’re as comfortable as possible. That means making use of our extensive experience in the field of dentistry to provide the most efficient, effective oral healthcare available anywhere.
If you have any questions about sedation dentistry, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (859) 223-4644.