Sedation Dentistry: What’s In It For Me
According to statistics, one out of seven people experience anxiety or fear whenever they visit the dentist? It may sound crazy for the others who don’t feel a bit of anxiety during dental treatments. But for those who do, anxiety is a big deal. If they can avoid the dentist, they will certainly come up with excuses to skip the dentist appointment, routine dental check-ups included.
Now, imagine missing your dental visits year after year. The possibility of acquiring dental problems due to poor dental hygiene is inevitable. And before you know it, it’s too late. The condition of your teeth has already worsened and as a result, the bad teeth will require a more expensive treatment. So, now you worry about your teeth and the cost associated with the dental procedure. Your dental problems have become more complex and all because you fear the dentist.
Nowadays, anxious patients do not need to go through a discomfiting cycle of fear and discomfort. Sedation dentistry helps in alleviating the pain and the level of anxiety experienced by patients. Before the patient undergo sedation or sleep dentistry procedure, the treating dentist will have to conduct an evaluation of the needs of the patient and from there, formulate a treatment plan to suit the needs of the patient. Only then, the appropriate level of sedation will be determined.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses sedative drugs to alleviate the patient’s level of anxiety during the dental procedure. It can be in the form of oral sedation wherein the patient is given a prescribed pill an hour before the treatment. Another option is administering Nitrous Oxide or commonly known as “laughing gas”. An inhaler is placed over the patient’s nose allowing the patient to breathe in the laughing gas. This will put in the patient in a relaxed state immediately. Intravenous (IV) sedation involves the use of medications administered intravenously. With this procedure, the patient is hooked up with a blood pressure monitor, heart rate monitor and pulse oximeter, per standard safety procedures. This pocedure is being practiced by specialists who are trained and state-certified to perform sedation dentistry. Intramuscular (IM) sedation employs administering sedative drugs and are injected into the muscle of the upper arm or thigh to produce a relaxed state.
With sedation dentistry, the patient is conscious and aware of his surroundings throughout the procedure. This procedure is prescribed for patients who have light to moderate levels of anxiety.
Only a team of highly specialized dentists, specialists and dental anesthesiologists are allowed to practice sedation and sleep dentistry in the state of Florida. At Plantation area, our team of Fort Lauderdale dentists are trained and certified to practice sedation and sleep dentistry. We use the latest innovation in dental technology and comply with industry-standard safety procedures to care for our patients’ dental health.
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Tags: Dental Care, Fort Lauderdale dentists, intramuscular sedation, intravenous sedation, laughing gas, oral sedation, sedation dentistry, sleep dentristry