Many of us suffer from dental problems and yet do not show up at a clinic. One major reason for it is the fear associated with dental procedures. We all know how scary and intimidating treatments like tooth extraction can be. To add to it, some people have issues like phobias and anxiety attached to dental procedures or medical facilities in general. There has to be a solution to this problem, isn’t it? Otherwise, a majority of people wouldn’t be able to get their dental problems rectified. Well, yes, there is. Sedation dentists in West Hollywood are making use of certain compounds to calm your senses and ease your pain during the procedure.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry isn’t another specialty in dentistry. Rather it is the term given to the usage of sedatives while performing dental procedures in the clinic. Sedatives are medications that calm down your nervous system. Dentists need to possess some special certification in order to be able to make use of these compounds. There are several renowned sedation dentists in West Hollywood who are experts in dealing with these sedatives. How will sedation help, you may ask? Sedatives work wonders in reducing the stress and anxiety associated with the surgeries, as well as reducing the pain sensation.
Patients that benefit the most from sedation dentistry
A lot of people benefit from the use of sedatives for dental procedures. People who have a fear of dentists and doctors, in general, respond well to this method. Furthermore, people with the fear of needles, hospital settings, etc., may also benefit from it. Also, it becomes very difficult to operate in the oral cavity of people who have a very sensitive gag reflex. So for them, sedation helps to relax the muscles involved in the reflex and makes it easy for the orthodontist to work.
Further, people with extreme teeth sensitivity or lower pain thresholds will surely need sedatives to comfortably move forward with the treatment. Children tend to get very scared of any invasive treatments, and hence they are mostly required to be sedated. Not to forget, people with mental disabilities and other special needs must be sedated since cooperation would be hampered otherwise.
What should one do to avail of the treatments in sedation dentistry?
You need to communicate with your dentist about your willingness to opt for sedation dentistry during your initial consultation itself. This is because not everybody is fit to avail of this option. Sedatives have a depressive impact on our nervous and cardiovascular systems. Hence, people with certain conditions need to avoid these chemicals.
Thus dentists make sure to evaluate their patient’s anesthetic fitness before going for the decision to sedation dentistry. They do this through a thorough physical checkup and by running a couple of tests for the matter. Sometimes, they also refer patients to cardiologists for their opinion in case they suspect any kind of cardiovascular abnormality in their patients.
Apart from your general health, your medication history is also important. Be sure to mention all the medications and supplements that you are on, especially blood thinners like Warfarin and Heparin. Your orthodontist will then discuss with you the changes you need to make in your medications for the time being, if required. Any addictions to smoking or alcohol are also taken into account.
You will need to disclose all information regarding your medical conditions, ongoing treatments, past surgeries, addictions, allergies, and more. Only after they have gathered all the necessary data will the sedation dentists in West Hollywood decide the level of your anesthetic fitness. After that, they will move on with the recommendation of sedatives based on the treatment procedure and your general health condition.
What compounds are used for sedation?
Based on your anxiety levels, procedure duration, the surgery’s invasiveness, health conditions, and personal preferences, a dentist can use different sedatives. Nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, is one of the most commonly used compounds. It is given through a face mask. Then there is Oral conscious sedation, which is similar to a sleeping pill, that is given to patients around an hour before the surgery.
Intravenous sedation is a deeper form of sedation used in sedation dentistry in which drugs are directly flushed into your bloodstream to provide an instant calming effect. Consult with our sedation dentists in West Hollywood to know which sedative agent suits you best.
Potential complications of sedation dentistry
There aren’t many risks associated with sedation dentistry, and it is believed to be very safe in general if done under the supervision of a licensed sedation dentist. But complications can arise even in the safest of procedures; the same goes with sedation dentistry. Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, nausea, and vomiting remain among the most common post-procedure complaints among patients undergoing sedation dentistry. Headaches may also arise, along with residual drowsiness and light-headedness. Furthermore, nobody can predict certain complications such as severe allergic reactions, breathing difficulty, cardiac arrest, etc. But you need not worry, as these kinds of misfortunes are extremely rare.
You can always discuss these issues with your orthodontist during post-treatment visits. They will prescribe the necessary medications and give you directions to relieve these issues.