Our Stonegate Family Dentistry practice offers various types of dental sedation, including oral sedatives, nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and general anesthetic. We realize that dental anxiety is an important issue for some patients, so our dental professionals and technicians with Stonegate Family Dentistry will make every effort to ease dental anxiety by providing exceptional care and comfortable services.
Sedation dentistry refers to the use of sedation during dental procedures. Sedation is most often used during complex procedures for patients with severe dental phobia and those who find it challenging to sit still during dental treatment. Sedation can range from nitrous oxide to help relax a patient to general anesthesia used to put patients to sleep.
Sedation may be administered to patients in several ways, including oral sedatives, nitrous oxide sedation, and intravenous sedation.
Oral sedatives are one of the most common forms of sedation dentistry that help reduce dental phobia and anxiety among patients. Oral sedation induces a relaxed state of mind in a patient and helps decrease pain and discomfort. Patients who are given oral conscious sedation are very aware of what is happening around them and can generally respond to the doctor's queries during treatment. They are in a position to express any pain or anxiety they may be undergoing, although they may have little or no memory of it after the procedure.
This form of anesthesia is also referred to as laughing gas. Nitrous oxide is administered to the patient through a nasal breathing mask. The gas is given in combination with oxygen and has a calming effect on distressed patients. Sedation through nitrous oxide is rapid and rarely causes any side effects following the procedure. The effects of the gas will subside almost instantly.
Intravenous sedation or IV sedation involves delivering the sedative medication via injection directly into the blood vessels of the hand or arm. IV sedation is relatively safe and effective and may be used for more demanding dental procedures, such as oral surgery and tooth extraction. It also acts as an amnesiac, making the patients forget everything about the dental treatment afterward, even though they will remain awake and responsive during the procedure.
General anesthesia puts a patient to sleep completely during a dental procedure. The anesthesia is administered in different ways, including injection, gas inhalation, or through an IV, depending on the patient's needs. General anesthesia is totally safe to use if it is performed under professional guidance.
To learn more about sedation dentistry or how to reduce your dental anxiety, call Dentist in Murfreesboro, TN at (615) 624-6919 or request an appointment online.
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