Fear of the dentist is a common fear. While it might not rank up there with fear of dying, it comes a close second for many adults and children. Because dentists, like Pat Crawford DDS, don’t want you to avoid getting proper dental treatments, they are using sedation dentistry to help put patients mind at ease.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Dentists use medication to relax patients who are filled with anxiety. They also use it when the procedure is going to be long and uncomfortable or when they need patients to sleep. Sedation dentistry removes the fear and anxiety regarding visits to dental offices.
What Are the Common Forms of Sedation Dentistry Used?
- Minimal sedation: you are given an oral pill to take prior to your visit. You are fully awake during the dental procedure but relaxed and comfortable.
- Moderate sedation: In this type of sedation, you probably will sound drunk. Your words will be slurred. You will remember only parts of the procedure. This is also known as conscious sedation dentistry and often is associated with extractions.
- Deep sedation: In this type of sedation dentistry you are technically “asleep.” You are put into a state of consciousness where you won’t remember anything and must be awakened by a dentist. Difficult surgical procedures use this form.
- General anesthesia: Like in a hospital, you are unconscious and need an anesthesiologist to perform it. You will not know anything that happened. The rules that apply to patients in hospitals apply with this sedation dentistry.
How Is Sedation Dentistry Administered?
- Inhaled sedation is for minimal uses. If you have a fear of the dentist, Dr. Crawford might give you nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, inhaled using a mask. You are fully awake and conscious, but you aren’t afraid. Once the mask is removed, the effects wear off.
- Oral sedation ranges from minimal to moderate. The amount of your dosage will determine how much the sedation will affect you. Some fall asleep with the procedure. They can be awakened easily. When most people think about sedation dentistry, they think about oral or taking a pill to avoid knowing what is happening.
- IV moderate sedation requires the staff of Pat Crawford DDS to give the sedative using an intravenous delivery system. It takes effect more quickly. The dentist will monitor the levels of sedation during the procedure. Patients are usually asleep but not fully unconscious.
- General anesthesia or deep sedation involve medications that leave you unconscious. You are not easily awakened, and you are not allowed to drive home. After several hours, the anesthetic will begin to wear off.
In most cases, you will anyway be given a form of local anesthetic to make you feel comfortable and ease the pain. The cost of sedation dentistry largely depends on the method and is not always covered under your insurance policy.
Who Should Get Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is for people in Kenosha with dental anxiety, and people going under a painful dental procedure. It may also be used if you have a low pain threshold or have trouble sitting still when the dentist performs the required procedure.
Although minimal sedation is common in most offices, Dr. Crawford has received additional certifications to perform other forms of sedation dentistry. To accomplish this certification, he took extra classes.
Come to Dr. Crawford at 7851 Cooper Road, Kenosha, WI 53142 if you wish to know more about sedation dentistry or want to undergo a dental procedure without any pain. Call today to make an appointment, (262) 649-9436
and address your fears about the dentist. You will be happy you didn’t avoid proper dental care.