Five Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry refers to the use of sedatives to help patients relax during their visit. This treatment is used for people who suffer from severe anxiety during dental treatment, and it may also be recommended for people who have a sensitive gag reflex or difficulty sitting still for long periods of time. Patients are carefully monitored during the procedure by the dentist and his or her team. Many patients have little to no memory of their procedure when it is complete. However, the sedative will wear off after a few hours, so be sure to have someone else drive you home after treatment.

Anxiety Relief

Easing your anxiety about visiting the dentist is one of the best ways to ensure that you don’t put off important preventative care or cosmetic dentistry procedures. If you experience extreme anxiety or fear of the dentist, sedation dentistry may be a good option for you.

Facial muscles relax when patients receive relaxation gas during dental procedures. Some patients even fall asleep while they’re under the effects of the sedative gas! This means that patients who avoid the dentist because of the fear of pain won’t feel any discomfort in their procedure because they’ve fallen asleep!

Anterograde Amnesia

Sedation dentistry allows you to be less aware of your procedure and any discomfort you may experience. This allows you to stay awake during the appointment and not have to worry about remembering the work that took place. You may not remember the procedure at all!

Many patients report that they cannot distinguish which part of the treatment was performed while they were sedated versus when they were awake. This reduction of memory is known as anterograde amnesia.

While sedation dentistry is extremely safe, please talk to your dentist if you have any questions about your medical history or if you will need clearance from your doctor before your appointment.

Reduction in Gag Reflex

Many patients experience gag reflexes or vomit when at the dentist’s office. This is normal and occurs because the patient has negative feelings about visiting the dentist’s office. A gag reflex can cause some patients to throw up unknowingly while at the dentist’s office during a procedure. If you fall into this category, sedation dentistry may be right for you. With sedation dentistry, your gag reflex is greatly reduced, and any vomiting that you experience will be controlled. This means that you can undergo your dental procedure without fear of suddenly throwing up. As a result, your appointment will flow smoothly so that you can get the care that you need.

Pain Relief

Dental anxiety causes many patients to avoid the dentist until their pain becomes unbearable. By then, patients have endured days of pain and infection. Some even live with constant pain or discomfort because of the dental fear they experience. With sedation dentistry, your sedation dentist can effectively treat your pain and reduce your anxiety at the same time. Your procedure will be more comfortable and quicker than ever.

The Dentist Can Work Faster

Without sedation dentistry, the dentist may have to stop and take a break numerous times throughout the appointment in order to calm nervous patients or deal with gag reflexes. With IV sedation, this is not an issue, allowing the patient to rest peacefully through the visit so the dentist can work as quickly as possible.

To schedule your next dental visit, contact our dentist in Chesterfield, MO, today! You can call us at 636-532-2101 or schedule an appointment online to consult our dentist at Licata Dental.