Sedation dentistry has become an increasingly popular choice for consumers to choose that have an inherent fear or phobia of the dentist. The methods used for sedation dentistry vary in their purpose and strength of sedation. Your dentist will choose the method that best suits your oral hygiene needs and amount of anxiety built-up regarding the procedure.
What Are the Levels of Dental Sedation?
There are three general levels of sedation that include mild, moderate, and deep which can be achieved through using varying sedatives. Your dentist will choose the amount of sedation that is appropriate for your upcoming visit, but will also require your full medical history and current medications to ensure that the planned sedation method is compatible with your medical history.
What is Anxiolysis?
Anxiolysis is the term used to refer to mild dental sedation and is primarily used to relieve patient anxiety. One of the common methods used to achieve mild sedation is for your sedation dentist to use nitrious oxide or “lauging gas” which is also referred to as inhalation analgesia. When your dentist uses this method, you receive it prior to your dental procedure being conducted via a nose-hood through which the nitrous oxide is administered prior to and during your dental treatment. The nitrous oxide will normally provide the patient with an overall feeling of well-being with a bit of tingling and numbness. Your dentist can also achieve anxilysis through the use of pills.
What is Moderate Dental Sedation?
Moderate dental sedation refers to the patient experiencing a depressed level of consciousness and is one of the more common methods popular for sedation dentists to use. It is also referred to as oral conscious sedation (OSCS). It achieves a moderate sedation by using oral medication that the patient takes prior to the appointment. It is used to produce a diminished awareness of pain and other senses by the patient and is sometimes referred to as “Twighlight Sleep”. When you undergo this form of sedation, you will need to have a responsible adult take you to and from your dentist appointment. You may also be required to take additional medication after your appointment depending on how extensive of a wellness or cosmetic dental procedure that you are getting.
What is Intravenous Sedation?
Intravenous sedation is similar to oral sedation in that it makes you feel like you are really asleep during your sedation dental procedure. The largest difference is that intraveneous sedation is administered via IV and has a near-simultaneous effect on the patient. This method is not popular with patients who have phobias or fear of needles, but many patients believe the dental procedure occures much more quickly when using the intravenous option for their dental sedation.
What is Deep Sedation?
Deep sedation is not normally used in sedation dentistry or a sedation dentistry method because it places the patient in a depressed consciousness where they may not breathe independently, may be unable to respond to verbal/physical stimulation, and may lose some of their reflexes. When a patient undergoes deep sedation, many times it has to be achieved with an IV or general anesthesia meds which may result in after-effects for a number of hours after the sedation is complete. General anesthesia is also not a common method used for dental sedation unless a patient has an intrusive dental surgery or procedure need.
No matter what type of dental sedation method you choose to undergo, you will need to ensure a responsible adult or caregiver is pre-arranged to drive you to and from your dental appointment. Your dentist will also recommend a timeframe that your escort remain with you after returning home from your appointment.
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