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Many people, no matter what age, become anxious at the thought of being in the dentist’s chair. For these people, sedation dentistry is a great option. Certainly, sedation is extremely helpful for long, complicated dental procedures, but for patients who have serious fears of the dentist’s office, it can be used for even the most simple dental procedures, such as dental cleanings. At Concerned Dental, our goal is to keep your teeth and mouth as healthy as possible while ensuring your comfort. That’s why we offer sedation dentistry for any of our patients who request this service during any of our procedures.
You may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry at Concerned Dental if you:
There are several levels of sedation used by dentists. These include:
Dental sedation can be administered in a number of ways. These include:
During inhalation sedation, the patient inhales a combination of nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") and oxygen through a mask placed over the nose. This helps the patient relax. Because nitrous oxide wears off quickly, patients may be able to drive themselves home after the procedure.
This method involves patients taking a pill, usually Halcion (related to Valium), about an hour prior to the dental procedure. Patients typically become groggy enough from this medication to sleep through the procedure, but can be awakened.
This form of sedation is administered intravenously and works quickly. Because the dentist has control of the amount of medication entering the patient’s vein, the dentist can adjust the sedation level as necessary.
This type of sedation renders the patient almost or entirely unconscious, depending upon the amount administered.
Regardless of the type of sedation administered, the patient typically receives a local anesthetic as well to relieve pain at the treatment site.
When properly administered, sedation and anesthesia are quite safe, but there is always some risk involved. People at greater risk of complications are those who are obese or who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.
Patients should always make sure that the dentist administering sedation or anesthesia has the proper training and has performed many such procedures previously. In addition, the dosage being administered should always be within the dose recommended by the FDA and there should always be oxygen, artificial ventilation, and medications to reverse the effects of sedation available in case of a problem.
Choosing to visit our experienced dentists at Concerned Dental for your sedation dentistry can offer you the below benefits:
If you are interested in sedation dentistry, visit Concerned Dental. We offer comprehensive dental services for patients in The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Westchester, and Long Island. Our modern and friendly practice is home to a highly-qualified team of general dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and other dental professionals who can handle all aspects of dentistry from one convenient location. To book your visit, call our office at (800) 583-9285 or request an appointment today.
