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Why is Sedation Dentistry necessary for some patients? It is common and perfectly normal to have some degree of apprehension or anxiety prior to receiving dental treatment. Some people, however, have stronger feelings in this regard than others.
These feelings may be the result of less-than-pleasant past experiences, stories told by family and friends, or the nature of the dental procedure itself (wisdom teeth removal).
Dental treatment may be especially frightening to young children and patients with developmental disabilities. Whatever the cause, apprehension or anxiety can produce many unpleasant effects including heart palpitations, high blood pressure, upset stomach, and trouble sleeping the night before the appointment.
Many highly apprehensive patients avoid dental care for many years until their problems become so severe that they are forced to seek emergency care.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation can make practically all dental and oral surgical procedures more pleasant and safer for apprehensive patients. During the procedure, the anxiety that many people have can be controlled by administering sedative medication.
A sedated patient will not only be more relaxed but can also have potentially limited memory of the procedure performed. In either case, local anesthesia (lidocaine) is also administered to block the pain sensations during the procedure and to keep the mouth numb during recovery.
How is the medication administered?
Sedative medication can be administered by breathing (nitrous oxide/laughing gas), orally (pill form) or intravenously (