Sedation Dentistry | Sedation Dentist Maryland
January 12th, 2010 by wordpress
A trip to the dentist every 6 months, for many people, is not something they look forward to with happiness and anticipation. In fact, going to the dentist can bring out a certain amount of apprehensiveness. This is sometimes referred to as dental anxiety or dental phobia.
Many of these worries involve the fear that the dentist will lecture them on having less than perfect teeth, or that they will choke when their teeth are being cleaned, and so on. This is perfectly understandable in a situation where the patient has or feels they have little or no control over the situation at hand. In these cases it is important to consult with their dentist about steps that could be taken to make the visit more comfortable. If simply being aware of what will happen in the procedures is not enough, being sedated while conscious, also known as conscious sedation may be an option. This is known as sedation dentistry and there are a few options one has in using this type of dentistry.
There are three kinds of sedation: inhalation conscious sedation, enteral conscious sedation and IV sedation.
The first to be discussed is inhalation conscious sedation, also known as “laughing gas,” and is a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen. This is the most popular technique that a sedation dentist will use. It has been used for several years, and thus is the most well-known. Patients who undergo inhalation conscious sedation may find themselves in a sleepy, weak state, perhaps even falling asleep during the appointment. However, all proper body functions do continue to work and they can breathe normally. As far as advantages, although the patient may experience slight amnesia about the procedure, they do not need to be kept at the office or escorted and can go about their daily tasks as if nothing happened.
Enteral conscious sedation, or oral sedation, is accomplished by having the patient swallow a pill. In some cases the dentist may give out the pill to be taken beforehand, usually on the evening before the procedure. With this sedation method the patient is not permitted to drive or handle any vehicles of any kind. The duration of this order lasts for about 24 hours after the appointment has concluded.
Lastly, IV sedation, also referred to as intravenous conscious sedation, transfers the medicine right into the blood stream for immediate results. However, it is not as well-known an option and thus is not available everywhere. Those who use this sedation choice must not drive to the dentist’s office alone.
