For those who feel nervous or anxious in the dentist’s chair, sedation dentistry can make it possible to overcome this anxiety and keep up with regular dental visits. Sedation dentistry is a safe, simple approach that allows you to spend your dental visit in a state of complete relaxation. [pullquote]Sedation dentistry uses a mild sedative to give you a feeling of peace and calm while the dentist tends to your teeth. [/pullquote]
How Sedation Dentistry Works
Sedation dentistry uses a mild sedative to give you a feeling of peace and calm while the dentist tends to your teeth. If you are concerned about feeling groggy after treatment, ask your dentist what sedation method he prefers.
If your dentist provides sedation in pill form, the sedative might take a few hours to work through your system. In this case, you should expect to feel a bit groggy after your appointment and should arrange to have someone else drive you to and from the office. If, however, your dentist uses nitrous oxide—a gas often used during dental work—it will pass through your system quickly, and you will be alert enough to drive almost immediately after you have finished your appointment. If you have any concerns at all about driving after sedation dentistry, it is best to make arrangements to get a ride home from the dentist’s office.
When is Sedation Dentistry Necessary?
Dentists commonly use anesthetics and various forms of sedation as they perform their work, especially if they must perform restorations, deep cleaning, extractions or other procedures that might cause the patient discomfort. Sedation dentistry, however, is aimed at patients who experience intense anxiety even during routine dental examinations.
Causes of this kind of dental anxiety include:
- Past bad experiences with the dentist
- An underlying anxiety issue
- Long-term avoidance of the dentist, meaning that a large amount of work is necessary
Any of these issues, as well as others, could make you a good candidate for sedation dentistry. If you have any questions about sedation dentistry, how it works, or how to know if it is right for you, please call the office of Dr. Kemp in Toronto for an appointment.