Many people have misconceptions about sedation dentistry. Some may find it surprising that sedation dentistry is no longer restricted to oral surgery and major dental procedures. People often think that the patient is under general anesthesia for sedation dentistry. Though these things may have been true in the past, sedation dentistry has evolved to meet the needs of the patients.
The uses of sedation dentistry have multiplied. In addition to major dental procedures, sedation dentistry is also used to calm the fears and anxiety of patients. People often neglect to get dental care due to their anxiety related to dentistry.
A fear of needles or bad experiences with Novocain can also deter people from seeking dental care. Fortunately, there are now many alternatives to injected medications for dentistry. People with post-traumatic stress disorder or other anxiety disorders may have difficulty going to the dentist. Sedation dentistry may be a solution for them.
Sedation dentistry does not necessarily mean that the patient is totally sedated to the point of being unconscious as they would be for surgical procedures. Oral conscious sedation is the administration of medications that have a sedating effect without rendering the patient unconscious.
Several different medications are used for dental sedation. Some of these medications merely help the patient relax. The dentist may provide a medication upon the patient’s arrival then allow the medication to take effect before the dental cleaning or procedure.
Some oral medications that are used for oral conscious sedation include Ativan, Vistaril, Valium, and Sonata. These medications cause drowsiness and help the patient relax. The patient may even sleep during the procedure. Sedating medications may affect the patient’s memory of the experience. The patient may experience some amnesia for the procedure.
People who have fear or anxiety about dental care should discuss the availability of sedation with their dentists. The medications used and possible side effects should be discussed. The patient should understand what to expect from the sedating medication such as whether the medication will make them sleep or merely relax them. The patient needs to disclose any medication they are taking with the dentist to prevent a drug interaction with the sedating dentistry medication.
