Enjoy Relaxing Dental Visits
Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation
Different kinds of dental procedures require different types of sedation. Mainly, there are four sedation techniques used in sedation dentistry. First, there is inhaled-gas sedation.
With this, a patient is made to inhale nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, along with oxygen through a mask placed over the nose. The gas helps the patient relax and feel calm. Once the mask has been removed, the effects of the gas disappear quickly, allowing a patient to go on with their day normally.
Oral Sedation Dentistry
If a procedure is minimally invasive and you request to be sedated, then your dentist will have you take a pill known as Halcion, which is a member of the Valium family. This will make you feel quite drowsy while still remaining conscious. The pill is supposed to be consumed one-hour prior to the dental procedure. If a treatment is more involved, your dentist may up the dosage of this form of anesthesia. Patients likely to experience grogginess and may even fall asleep. However, they can be awakened by a gentle shake once the procedure is finished.
Intravenous Dental Sedation
Some patients are uncomfortable swallowing pills and prefer to have an injection In this case, a sedative is injected into a vein that quickly makes a patient feel very relaxed. One advantage of this sedation method is that the dentist is able to easily regulate the level of sedation while carrying out the dental procedure.
Anesthesia and Deep Sedation
In cases where the dental procedure to be carried out is invasive, patients are put to sleep by giving them a dosage of general anesthesia. This typically renders a patient almost or completely unconscious. With this kind of sedation, a patient cannot be awakened until the effects of the general anesthesia have worn off.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
When preparing for a dental visit or procedure, you might feel a bit anxious or fearful. In the past, while there may not have been the best solutions available, fortunately, times have changed. At Bal Dental Centre, we offer a variety of sedation dentistry options, but before we move forward with which one is best for you, we want you to feel comfortable and confident knowing how sedation dentistry works. Our sedation dentist in Scarborough has compiled a list of frequently asked questions for you to review. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The reason dental anxiety exists cannot be tied back to one specific instance. Unfortunately, there are many reasons a person can be afraid to go to the dentist, some of which include:
- Trauma from a past dental experience
- Fear of needles
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of anesthesia
- Uncertainty of how you will react to the sedation or anesthesia
Thankfully, there is a dentist for nervous patients in Scarborough who offers a wide range of sedation dentistry methods that can alleviate any stress, fears, or anxieties a person might have about their appointment or procedure.
Regular dental appointments are an important aspect of quality preventive care; however, should you decide to forgo these visits, you are putting your oral and overall health at risk. How? Should tooth decay or gum disease develop, you could be facing years of extensive (and expensive) dental care in order to fix the problems that were allowed to escalate to a dangerous level. Also, when infection from these oral health problems enter the bloodstream, you can be faced with heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, and even osteoporosis. Not to mention the possibility of developing oral cancer. Without proper screening, you can be putting yourself at risk of a disease that when detected early, can be lifesaving, but without it, it can be fatal.
Offered to patients who experience mild dental anxiety, nitrous oxide is administered through a mask that fits over your nose. Once your dentist in Scarborough is ready to begin, you will begin to breathe in the gas/oxygen mixture, and in no time, you’ll begin to feel calm and at ease. Although it will not put you to sleep, you will be able to follow commands by your dentist without being concerned about what is currently taking place.
The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly, so you won’t need to worry about anyone escorting you to or from your appointment.
Much research has been done over the years to conclude that sedation dentistry is not only safe, but it is extremely effective at delivering the results you need. No matter if you choose nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or intravenous sedation, you can expect nothing but the highest quality of care by our team of professionals. Throughout your procedure or regular visits, we will closely monitor you to ensure you are completely at ease and anxiety-free, making it possible to continue taking care of your oral health without the additional worry.
