Many patients find it impossible to visit the dentist due to deep-seated fears, a strong gag reflex, an intolerance for pain or the simple inability to sit still. Various forms of sedatives make it possible for these clients to visit the dentist and successfully receive care without any bad experiences.
Sacramento, CA, October 6, 2015 (Newswire.com) - In the dentistry experienced during many childhoods, dentists seldom used a sedative during procedures. A shot of novocaine was about all a patient could hope for, but that did little to stem the anxiety caused by pointy tools and a perceived lack of control. For some, that fear-inspiring moment was never forgotten and it translated into a powerful aversion to visiting the dentist. The result for many patients with this problem is terribly poor oral health and a litany of dental complications, like bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease and missing teeth. Fortunately, the Sacramento Dentistry Group is a downtown practice that uses sedation dentistry to encourage people to come back to the dentist.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
In sedation dentistry, the patient is administered powerful relaxants or sedatives that take away fear, anxiety and even awareness of the procedures taking place. For many clients, sedation dentistry, popularly called “sleep dentistry,” marks the first time they’ve returned to a dental office in years. From simple cleanings to complicated oral surgeries, these Sacramento dentists make sedatives available to any patient asking for it. In many cases, the lack of prior dental care means lots of restoration work needs to be done, so keeping the fearful patient calm or in a reduced state of consciousness is key to completing lengthy procedures.
What Kinds of Sedation Dentistry Are There?
From the sedation with the least to the greatest strength, the Sacramento Dentistry Group uses the following sedatives:
Inhaled Sedation — This is the classic “laughing gas” or nitrous oxide. This drug produces a sense of well-being and reduces the awareness of pain. It makes it much easier to administer the initial doses of pain relief and eliminates patient anxiety. Most clients are able to drive themselves home after a brief rest period in the dental office, since nitrous oxide wears away quickly after the patient stops inhaling it.
Oral Sedation — A sedative in liquid or pill form is administered to the patient, usually in the dental office. After a short period of time, the client is very drowsy. Dosage is adjusted based on the patient’s specific condition. For most, although they are technically awake, they have little to no memory of the dental procedure once it is complete. The memories of past bad experiences at the dentist are forgotten and some literally “sleep away” their procedure.
IV Sedation — The dentists of the Sacramento Dentistry Group are also qualified to perform intravenous sedation. This type of sedation, while featuring effects similar to oral sedation, gives the dentist much more control over the amount of sedative administered. This allows them to “fine tune” the sedation experience for maximum patient benefit.
For more information about sedation dentistry, potential clients may contact the Sacramento Dentistry Group directly at 916-538-6900, through their office at 1105 E Street in downtown Sacramento, or via their website at sacramentodentistry.com. Sedation dentistry — it gets patients back to the dentist to take care of their oral health and hygiene.
Source: Sacramento Dentistry Group
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