For many people, going to the dentist can be a nuisance. It can be something someone isn’t exactly excited to do, but they go through with it nevertheless. However, there are some people who experience genuine anxiety and fear when faced with the idea of even having to get their teeth cleaned, and often even more so when it comes to more in-depth procedures.
Our goal is always to cultivate a friendly and calming environment for everyone who enters our practice. This isn’t always enough. For those who experience a lot of distress, sedation dentistry may offer a solution to allow you to remain calm and happy during the procedure. Putting off dental procedures can end up being even more costly in the long run and sedation allows you to get procedures done sooner rather than later. Here are five major reasons you might want to consider sedation dentistry as an option.
Why to Consider Sedation Dentistry
- You can speed up the process
- A portion of the time spent prior to the procedure is helping to make you feel comfortable in the chair and to help alleviate worries you may have. By utilizing sedation, that process should be sped up. Without needing to tend to patient anxiety your dentist is able to get right to the procedure. This can lead to a much better experience and even better outcomes.
2. You’re able to remain awake for the procedure
- Sedation may make you think of a type of medicine that makes you fall asleep, but that isn’t always the case. Certain types of sedation, like general anesthesia, will render you unconscious, but there are several anesthesia options that don’t put you under. These include oral sedation medication as well as nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The level of sedation used will depend entirely on the type of work being done. More intensive procedures, like placing dental implants, may require general anesthesia. For more minor procedures, sedation can be used where you’re awake but don’t feel pain or anxiety.
3. You can improve your quality of life
- For a lot of people who struggle with anxiety disorders or just a general fear of the dentist, it can be disconcerting to even have the date of the appointment looming over you. It’s possible for people who struggle with this to think about the appointment day after day, causing stress and anxiety. This can be compounded when major work is involved. By choosing to opt for sedation dentistry, you’ll know you have a plan in place to tackle the fears you have. You’ll have something to remind yourself that everything is going to be okay.
4. Sedation dentistry can help with your gag reflex
- Some people struggle with a gag reflex that is more sensitive than others which can often get in the way of dental work. This work may end up taking longer and can cause you to have a negative experience. Even more moderate forms of sedation will usually cause your gag reflex to be reduced, allowing for a better experience.
5. Get all the work done
- When feelings of fear and anxiety surround your visits to the dentist, it’s very easy for someone to put off necessary dental work which can have negative impacts on your long-term oral health. It’s very possible for relatively small issues to become bigger ones over time. Sedation dentistry allows you to get these procedures accomplished within a reasonable amount of time. You’ll no longer have to fear coming into the office and you’ll feel the relief that you got your oral health back on track.
Conclusion
While we strive to make every experience our patients have at our office a great one, there will always be some people who have trouble coming in. Sedation dentistry offers an effective solution that allows you to feel calm and at ease during the whole procedure. If you’re interested in this kind of solution or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us and make an appointment. We’ll be able to answer all your questions and help you on a path towards better dental health.
