Four Common Dental Sedation Myths
Going to the dentist for cleaning and examination is crucial. But, for some of us, a trip to the dental clinic is a traumatic experience. Most people with dental phobia visit the dentist when they have a problem that needs urgent treatment. But, with the introduction of dental sedation, getting dental treatments has become easy.
Dental sedation uses medication to relax and keep you calm during a dental procedure. But, effective as it is, it is surrounded by several misconceptions. The misinformation makes it hard for people to benefit from dental sedation. That is why you should know about the myths to make an informed decision. In this post, we highlight some of the common dental sedation myths.
1. Dental Sedation Causes Unconsciousness
Most people avoid dental sedation because of the fear of being unconscious during the procedure. But, sedation does not cause you to sleep (most of them). While dental sedation is at times referred to as sleep dentistry, it does not cause you to be unconscious; only one type does that.
Sedation dentistry is available in different types and doses. Our Dentist in Venice will first do an assessment to determine which dental sedation is ideal for you, and then choose from the following:
- Laughing gas
This is also referred to as inhaled sedation because the dentist will give the medication using a face mask. It is called laughing gas because it gives you the ‘feel-good feeling’ that makes you giggle. Laughing gas takes effect immediately and the dentist will administer it a couple of minutes before the procedure.
Inhaled sedation is mild and has little to no side effects, making it ideal for children.
- Oral sedation
Oral or pill sedation is a bit stronger than the inhaled gas. The dentist will give you a pill a few hours before the procedure for all the medication to metabolize. As the pill takes effect, you may feel grogginess.
The dentist may also give you the pill the night before the procedure to allow you to sleep properly.
Oral sedation can also be used in children. The dentist calculates the dosage based on the child’s age and weight.
While it does not cause unconsciousness, you may drift to sleep a little bit, but can be woken up with a gentle shake.
- Intravenous sedation
The medication is injected directly into the bloodstream via the veins. IV sedation allows the dentist to adjust the dosage based on the kind of procedure. This makes it ideal for complex dental procedures like wisdom teeth extraction.
IV sedation does not cause you to sleep, but you may not have a recollection of the procedure.
A little preparation is needed before you come for the IV sedation. Dr. Amy Valeti will give you the before and after instructions that you need to follow.
- Deep sedation
General anesthesia does cause deep sleep and it is reserved for procedures like oral surgery. The sedatives do not wear out as quickly, and the dentist may use medication to reduce the effects.
2. Dental Sedation is Only for Painful Procedures
Although dental sedation is ideal for procedures like wisdom teeth extraction, the dentist can use it for minor treatments too. The primary goal of dental sedation is to relax and keep you calm. Therefore, the dentist will use it for any dental procedure; from veneers to oral surgery.
3. Sedation Dentistry Is Unsafe
Dental sedation has little to no side effects when administered by a licensed dentist. Our dentist will calculate the required dosage and also monitor the progress to address any problem when it arises.
4. Anyone Can Use Sedation
Sedation dentistry is safe for most people, but there are times when sedation is not a good option. The dentist will not use sedation if:
- You are pregnant
- You have other medication conditions that can interfere with the effectiveness of the sedatives.
- You are allergic to the sedation medication used
The good news is, we have several dental sedation. If one doesn’t work, another one might. Our dentist will do a comprehensive assessment to determine the suitable option.
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Visit Tarpon Shores Dental in Venice, FL for more information about dental sedation and how it works.