While many of us tend to be quite apprehensive about dentist visits, there are individuals that will have dental anxiety at a high level. To make them comfortable and ensure their oral health and hygiene, sedation dentistry is used.

There are also different types of sedation

Such as oral sedation where you take prescription medication prior to the appointment, nitrous oxide, intravenous or IV sedation and general anaesthesia. The type of sedation used will determine the level of sedation, recovery time and how it is administered. You can call the clinic today to learn more about this and book an appointment so that you can discuss your options with the dentist. Different people will have different levels of dental anxiety and depending on your situation, the type of sedation will vary. For those with mild anxiety, nitrous oxide which is also known as laughing gas is used. There are individuals that have severe dental anxiety and they can benefit from general anaesthesia or IV sedation. You have to be clear about your level of anxiety and the past experiences you have had with your dentist so that they can determine the ideal type of sedation to keep your comfortable.

The dentist will ask for a comprehensive medical history

So that they can be informed of any allergies you have, medications currently being taken along with pre-existing medical conditions. Some medications or health conditions can determine the type of sedation and sometimes additional precautions will need to be taken. Therefore, it is very important for the dentist to understand your medical history in detail. The qualification of the dental team should be verified. To offer sedation dentistry, the dental professional and the team should have undergone specialised training and certification. You can ask them about their experience with different types of sedation and ask about their track record when it comes to managing sedated patients successfully.

Your dentist

Will give you some pre-sedation instructions and it is very important to follow these so that you have a safe experience. Some instructions you will be given is to fast before you come to the appointment and to restrict certain medications you are currently taking. It is also recommended to arrange transport to and from the dental office as you will not be in a condition to drive after the sedation. There may be lingering effects depending on the type of sedation. When the procedure is shorter, generally milder forms of sedation are used. This will be oral sedation or nitrous oxide. However, if there are multiple procedures being performed in one session or if you are going for an extensive treatment, a deeper level of sedation will be required. Ask the dentist about the recovery period from the sedation. You will generally have a quick recovery from nitrous oxide and you will be able to get back to your normal routine after it. However, oral sedation tends to have a long recovery time. An extended recovery period is required for general anaesthesia and IV sedation.