Relaxing at the Dentist: Facts About the 4 Sedation Dentistry Types

Many people are always little anxious about visiting a cosmetic or generic dentist. This is due to the fear of the perceived pain involved with a treatment. But, if you need dental treatment, it’s best to have it done as soon as possible. Sedation dentistry is designed to calm the nerves and ensure you can get the treatment you need, without any fear.

In sedation dentistry, patients are prescribed medications that helps them to relax. Listed below are different levels of sedation, which range from minimal to general anaesthesia.

Minimal sedation This type of sedation is given through a mask placed over your nose. This helps to calm your nerves, like you are awake but relaxed. It wears off quickly and one can easily come back to his/her senses.

Moderate sedation is mainly a “Conscious Sedation”. In this state, one can be awakened with a gentle nudge or shake. This can be administered through a vein and the dentist can adjust the level of sedation.

Deep sedation or General Anaesthesia In this type, you are completely unconscious.

4 Types of Sedations:

Laughing Gas Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is used to calm patients during dental procedures. While someone is inhaling gas, they will be conscious, but because it’s a gas, it wears off very quickly once someone stop breathing it in.

Oral Sedatives In this case, a patient is prescribed medications to take at a particular time before the dental procedure. This pill usually helps in relaxing the patient and reduce their anxiety levels. In this, the patient will remain conscious during the procedure and will respond to dentist’s instructions, although he may not remember it later.

IV Sedation IV sedation consists of few variations. The first one is known as “twilight,” where you’re conscious, but not aware of your surroundings. Twilight IV sedation can make one drowsy, and one may not remember any of the procedure once it’s over. However, if the dentist needs to wake you up, it’s possible.

General anaesthesia This type of sedation is mainly administered for complex dental procedures and put the patient to sleep. This method carries certain risks, including a slight chance of death. A patient under the effects of general anaesthesia will not feel pain and the doctor will put a breathing tube down the patient’s throat, so that the patient can breathe.