Five Benefits of Sedation Dentistry That Can Make Your Dental Care Relaxing

Our patients who have anxiety about how their procedure will go are appreciative that we can offer sedation dentistry to help them relax during their visit. They are able to feel the most comfortable and relaxed with various types of medication. Some patients may feel more comfortable with anxiolytic medications such as Xanax or Valium. Others may prefer intravenous anesthetics, where they can simply go to sleep and wake up when their procedure is all done. Patients can get the most benefit from sedation dentistry when they know that they can relax and trust the dentist to perform their work to the best of their ability without pain. Here are the major benefits that sedation dentistry can offer.

Anxiety Relief

Anxious patients often avoid the dentist due to fear and anxiety. These people may put off seeking dental treatment until they experience serious pain and discomfort, which can lead to more complicated procedures to repair and restore their teeth. Fortunately, sedation dentistry can help anxious patients overcome their fears and receive the oral health care they need to prevent cavities and gum disease and maintain their best possible smiles.

Anterograde Amnesia

Many people are afraid that they will remember their procedure if they receive sedation dentistry. Luckily, this isn’t the case! This is because of the anterograde amnesia you will experience if you undergo IV sedation or oral sedation. It means that you are completely unconscious and won’t remember anything. Even a quick nap will be enough to forget your procedure due to the state of deep relaxation into which you will fall. If you have any fears about going under anesthesia for medical procedures, then this is a great alternative because you won’t actually have to undergo any anesthesia at all. Instead, you’ll just go to sleep and will be woken up after the procedure is over. Consider it sort of like having a nap, and you’ll wake up with no memory of what has taken place, much like when you sleep through an appointment and don’t remember it happening. This can also be a benefit if you’re afraid of the dentist and would rather just get it over with. You can simply take a pill or have some gas administered and be ready to go in no time. No memories will be made.

Reduction in Gagging Reflex

If you are fearful of going to the dentist because of a gagging reflex, then sedation dentistry may be the answer for you! There are several techniques dentists can use to reduce or stop your gag reflex entirely. A complete assessment of your dental health will be done at your first appointment to determine which method would be best for you.

A gag reflex is the involuntary closing of the throat that occurs when you try to swallow something unpleasant; many people experience it when they go to get a routine cleaning or other dental care procedure. Some people may feel nauseated or lightheaded when the gag reflex kicks in. Most gag reflexes are probably not dangerous, but they can be a nuisance to some patients when it occurs during dental treatments. Sedation dentistry can reduce the occurrence of gag reflexes. 

Pain Relief

You’d be surprised how many people avoid the dentist because of fear or anxiety. In fact, the American Dental Association estimates that more than 15 million Americans avoid going to the dentist each year due to fear and anxiety. That’s a lot of people!

Your dentist is trained to offer several types of sedation to help patients remain comfortable and relaxed throughout their procedure. We can tailor our sedation services to address your specific concerns and needs. Patients can undergo effective pain management with sedation dentistry and can enjoy reduced levels of anxiety and stress as well as higher levels of relaxation and comfort during and after treatment. Many also report less pain and a more positive experience overall.

The Dentist Can Work Faster

With sedation dentistry (also known as sleep dentistry), your dental team can work more quickly and efficiently during your appointment. This is because you’re relaxed and comfortable the entire time that you’re in the dentist’s chair. Patients that receive sedation dentistry often report that their appointments feel much shorter than they expected.

To experience the benefits of sedation dentistry for yourself, call your local dental office to schedule an appointment today!