Dental nxiety: It’s not just for Kids
- Posted on: Nov 15 2017
If you have a fear of the dentist, so do 9%-20% of Americans. It is not uncommon for adults to feel panic stricken or scared of sitting in the dentist chair. Though you might wish it, you can’t avoid the dentist for the rest of your life. Luckily, sedation dentistry can help you deal with your dental phobia. Sedation dentistry utilizes different medications to induce relaxation in patients and to help them feel more comfortable during their visit to the dentist. You can use sedation techniques for anything from a simple dental cleaning to dental surgery.
There are four types of sedation dentistry you can choose from:
- Inhaled minimal sedation. This form of sedation uses oxygen and nitrous oxide that you breath through a mask placed over your nose. Your dentist can easily alter the degree to which you are sedated using this method.
- Oral sedation. Oral sedation comes in the form of a pill, like Halcion, that you take one hour before your dental procedure. The pill will make you feel groggy to the point where you might fall asleep.
- IV moderate sedation. This type of sedation is given through a needle into your vein. This level of sedation allows the dentist to easily change the degree to which you are relaxed.
- Deep sedations and general anesthesia. During this sedation, you will either be close to unconscious or completely unconscious. To be awakened from this type, the anesthesia must wear off or reversed using medication.
With any level of sedation, a local anesthetic will be provided to numb the area that is being worked on. This way you will not feel any pain. Sedation dentistry is also a good option for patients who have a bad gag reflex, have extremely sensitive teeth, have difficulty sitting still in the dentist’s chair, or do not deal with pain well.
Schedule a dental exam
Schedule your next dental exam with Dr. Paul Covell by contacting our office at 713-943-9832. Our team is here to answer your questions and help you feel at ease during your dental visit. We look forward to hearing from you!
Posted in: Sedation Dentistry
