Sedation Dentistry for Dental Anxiety
Professional dental care is vital to maintaining the health and beauty of the smile. The American Dental Association recommends individuals see the dentist for a professional cleaning at least once every six months. If dental complications develop, follow-up treatment may be needed. Unfortunately, many people neglect professional dental care, and it is sometimes due to dental anxiety.
Dental anxiety makes even the most basic dental procedures extremely uncomfortable, but sedation dentistry can address dental fears. At the Cosmetic Dentistry Institute, we offer sedation dentistry to alleviate dental anxiety, so that our patients from the Troy, Birmingham, and Bloomfield, MI, area can get the dental care they need to protect their smile.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry can be used to reduce anxiety while patients undergo dental care. Sedation dentistry uses anesthesia to put patients in a “twilight sleep.” Twilight sleep describes a state of deep conscious sedation. Unlike general anesthesia, which causes temporary loss of sensation, consciousness, and awareness, the anesthesia used for sedation dentistry puts patients in a relaxed, semi-conscious state. Throughout treatment patients will be able to respond to the dentist, but they will not feel any worry or pain, and many do not have any memory of the procedure once the anesthesia has worn off.
How Is Sedation Dentistry Administered?
Although sedation dentistry helps to alleviate dental anxiety and make dental procedures go more smoothly, some patients are hesitant to request sedation dentistry because they are fearful of needles. These patients can rest assured that there are several ways that sedation dentistry can be administered. At our dental practice, we offer sedation dentistry via:
- Nitrous oxide (a gas that is inhaled)
- Oral sedation (a pill taken prior to dental treatment)
- IV sedation
Oral and IV sedation offer strong effects, while nitrous oxide provides light sedation. Our dentists select the means of sedation dentistry that is most appropriate for each patient based on their unique needs and desires.
Candidates for Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is offered in several forms, and since patients remain semi-conscious throughout treatment, it does not involve as many risks as general anesthesia. Because of this, most patients are suitable candidates for sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry is particularly well-suited for individuals with issues such as:
- Dental anxiety, or a heightened fear of the dentist
- Strong gag reflex
- Advanced tooth sensitivity
- Difficulty remaining still for extended periods of time
- Complex dental problems that require extensive treatment
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry offers a number of benefits. Most notably, it alleviates fear and anxiety so that patients can undergo dental treatment in physical and mental comfort. Through sedation dentistry patients are able to get the dental care that is required to protect and/or restore their smile, so that they avoid advanced dental complications such as tooth loss.
Contact the Cosmetic Dentistry Institute
If a fear of the dentist has kept you from receiving the dental care you need to preserve the health of your smile, you may be an ideal candidate for sedation dentistry. To learn more about the sedation dentistry techniques offered at the Cosmetic Dentistry Institute, send us a message online, or call our dental practice at (248) 519-1919.