Sedation Dentistry
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is for those who fear dentistry. The dentist administers an analgesic or sedative prior to the dental procedures either through a pill or intravenously. Usually the sedation acts so that patients do not feel or remember the procedure.
What can sedation dentistry do?
Sedation dentistry can make your visit to the dentist much more comfortable. It may enable some patients to get needed dental work who otherwise might not go.
How does sedation dentistry work?
Usually, the patient will take a pill or two of a drug called Halcion or triazolam, although other similar medications might be used. The family of drugs used is called the benzodiazepine family. In general this drugs in this family act as sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs. Different drugs in the family have slightly different effects. Halcion puts the patient into a very deeply relaxed state and also causes amnesia. The result is that during the dental procedure the patient will be very comfortable yet still able to respond to the dentist. Once the drug has taken effect – typically within an hour, the patient will go to the dentist chair and experience an otherwise normal dental procedure. During the procedure, the patient's vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, and amount of oxygen in the blood) are monitored using a device called and oxipulsimeter. This is standard procedure for anyone under sedation to make sure that the sedative is not having too strong an effect on the body. After the procedure the patient usually will have little or no memory of the visit.
Sedation dentistry does not usually employ the kind of sedation used in medical surgery that causes a patient to totally lose consciousness. Thus, the patient still has muscle control and can interact with the dentist.
Occasionally, sedation dentistry techniques might involve intraveneous sedation that can be more directly controlled by the dentist. This may be an even more powerful or more fine-tuned sedation than obtained through the use of Halcion, but it is also more expensive.
A milder form of sedation dentistry is the use of “laughing gas,” or nitrous oxide to help a patient relax. Nitrous oxide is not as strong a sedative as Halcion. It makes the patient feel pleasantly intoxicated.
Is sedation dentistry right for me?
Sedation dentistry is a good solution for many people who have anxiety or fear about going to the dentist, or people who do not deal well with the physical sensations associated with dental work. However, it is not for everyone. Patients who fear not being in control, for example, might find sedation dentistry a more frightening experience than regular dentistry. Also, some people may have health issues that make sedation a less viable option.
How much does sedation dentistry cost?
Costs vary depending on insurance coverage, location, and dentist. Typical sedation dentistry fees may be in the range of a few hundred dollars up to nearly a thousand dollars depending on the type of sedation and amount of medication necessary, etc. Before undergoing a procedure, you should be able to get a reliable quote from the dentist.
How do I get sedation dentistry?
Many dentist offices offer some types of sedation dentistry. Check with the offices to find out what they offer. Dental directories online can help direct you to dentists who have plenty of experience in sedation dentistry.
