Does going to the dentist for even the most basic cleaning make you anxious? Or maybe you worry that your gag reflex will kick in during a dental exam or that a local anesthesia won’t keep you sedated land you’ll wake up in the middle of a dental procedure. If any of these concerns describe you or someone you love, you may be surprised to learn about the different types of sedation for dental work that are available for children and adult patients.
What is Dental Sedation?
Dental sedation allows your dental care team the opportunity to provide a variety of treatments safely and comfortably, especially if you experience anxiety when visiting your family clinic.
Benefits of sedation dentistry include:
- No memory of the procedure
- No sense of smell or sound
- No sense of time while sedated
- No fear or anxiety during the procedure
- No pain felt during the procedure
Types of Sedation Dentistry
There are three main types of sedation dentistry, as outlined by 123dentist.com’s community dentist network:
Nitrous Oxide: Commonly referred to as laughing gas, this relaxes you during your dental procedure while keeping you conscious. Nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen for you to inhale through a small mask, and this gas is usually odorless to slightly sweet smelling. The effects of this type of sedation can wear off quickly post operation, so your dentist may allow you to drive yourself home after your dental procedure is complete.
Oral Sedation: This is something your dentist will prescribe for you to take, typically an hour or so before your scheduled appointment. Though you’ll still be awake during the procedure, you will start to feel less anxious and more relaxed. This allows for more dental work to be performed in fewer appointments and for more complex procedures to be performed in less time.
IV Sedation: Intravenous, or IV, sedatives can put you into various stages of consciousness. There are two main types of IV Sedation: (1) twilight sedation, where you are conscious but unaware of your surroundings, and (2) general anesthesia, which is uncommon for most sedation dentistry, as it is mainly used for patients who require significant oral surgery or who are resistant to other types of sedation. Using this type of sedation means you’ll need to plan for someone to give you a ride home from your dentist’s office.
Sedation Dentistry at Dakota Dental in the Twin Cities
It’s understandable that many people feel a tad uneasy about going to see the dentist. The caring staff Dakota Dental can help put your mind at ease while ensuring the best quality dental procedures for your oral health. For your comfort and convenience, Dakota Dental offers sedation dentistry if needed or requested. Contact us at Dakota Dental today to learn more about how sedation dentistry can help you during your next dental appointment.