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As much as people know that they have to look after their dental health, too many people still don’t go for regular checkups. One of the reasons for this is that they fear the instruments and the dentist themselves. Unfortunately, this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because the longer someone waits to see the dentist, the worse their problems become. Dr. Kami Hoss is a very experienced dentist and he believes that building people’s knowledge on sedation dentistry may just be what is needed to get more people to commit to their dental care.
Dr. Kami Hoss Explains What Sedation Dentistry Is
Sedation dentistry has been around for a very long time. In fact, nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, was first introduced to dentistry in the 1840s, and is still used today. Genera sedation dentistry, meanwhile, was properly introduced by a student from Wales. Today, sedation can be used for lots of different types of procedures, from simple cleaning to full surgery. It is designed to stop people from feeling pain, leaving them relaxed instead.
Four Levels of Sedation Dentistry
The four levels are:
- Minimal, which means that the patient remains fully awake, yet relaxed.
- Moderate, whereby some details will be forgotten after the procedure, but you are technically awake.
- Deep, whereby you aren’t fully conscious anymore.
- General, whereby you are fully sedated and unconscious.
Different Methods of Sedation
There are many different methods used to sedate patients in dentistry, including:
- Inhaled minimal, which is where nitrous oxide is used, relaxing the nerves and body.
- Oral, whereby a tablet is provided around an hour before the start of the procedure. Sedation level is usually between minimal and moderate. It will leave you drowsy, but awake. It is common for people to fall asleep with this sedation, but that is not the same as being unconscious.
- IV moderate, whereby the anesthetic is delivered through the bloodstream. This is very rapid to take effect.
- Deep, whereby sedatives render you unconscious.
You can also choose to have a local anesthetic. This means that you won’t be sedated at all, but that the area on which the procedure is being completed is numbed, so you don’t feel anything.
Sedation dentistry is generally recommended for people who struggle with anxiety and who don’t go to the dentist because of this. It is important, however, that people tell their dentist about how they feel, so that they can be referred to a sedation specialist. They will then usually determine just how bad your anxiety is, and what type of procedure has to be completed. For instance, if you only require tooth cleaning and you have only moderate anxiety, then it is likely that only a local anesthetic will be provided. But if you suffer from severe anxiety and are looking to have dental implants, then full sedation will more likely be recommended. Either way, however, there is no reason why you should not go to the dentist.
