Have you heard of the term dental anxiety? It consists of a phobia of anything related to the dental area. To the dentist, the dental office, procedures, and especially, being afraid of the unknown. If you think about it, you don’t really know what is happening during dental treatment.
For decades, people have suffered from it. Fortunately, there are options to deal with it.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
If you are one of these people, you may benefit from sedation treatment in Davie.
Sedation dentistry consists of administering a sedative to calm you before and during a dental appointment. Our dentist in Davie may offer you multiple types of sedation, and you may choose the one that suits you the most, depending on your level of anxiety and your expectations.
So, before you look for sedation treatment near you, we will explain to you the most common types to orient you and debunk any misinformation you may have about this situation.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
1. Laughing Gas
Nitrous oxide is the famous laughing gas. It is perfect for people with mild anxiety or for children who need to undergo short procedures.
Your doctor will place a mask over your nose for you to inhale a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide. The effects are immediate, and once they remove it, they wear away at the minute. It is safe to drive back home on your own after undergoing a procedure with laughing gas, and you don’t need to wait a day to resume your activities.
2. Oral Sedation
Oral sedation is perfect for patients with moderate to severe anxiety. Your doctor will prescribe a pill (the sedative) the night before treatment and a half-hour before the appointment. In some cases, they may only prescribe one dose thirty minutes to an hour before.
You will feel drowsy during the treatment, and you may even fall asleep, but do not worry. It will be easy for us to wake you up because you will not be unconscious. You must not confuse this form of sedation with a general anesthetic.
Since effects remain some hours after treatment, you must arrange your drive back home. Also, we suggest taking it easy during the rest of the day.
3. IV Sedation
It is the most severe type, excellent for patients with severe dental phobia. You will not be fully asleep but will lose awareness of what is happening. You probably won’t remember a thing about the dental treatment, and you will feel calm right after your doctor administers the sedative through your vein (hence the name, intravenous sedation).
It is perfect for very anxious patients that need extensive dental work done.
Recommendations for IV Sedation
- Do not drink or eat anything eight hours before the sedation.
- Arrange your drive back home.
- Postpone your daily chores until the next few days.
- If you are taking any medications, consult with your doctor if they interfere with the sedation. You may need to stop taking them the day before or a couple of days before.
- Avoid drinking alcohol for the next 24 hours.
Dentistry is not one-size-fits-all. Perhaps the best sedation type for you is not the one that suits another patient. You may schedule a free consultation visit with a dentist near you to discuss your expectations and make the right decision.
Our goal is to make you feel at home. We will do our best to help you relax before your dental appointments so you can take care of your oral health without any fears.
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