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Overcoming Dentist Phobia: Four Sedation Dentistry Techniques
A common misconception about dentistry is that you don't have any power when you get into the office. Since we were children we have been shown images of the all-powerful dentist, and the painful and hurtful experiences of television characters. This fabrication has led to a condition known as dental phobia -- the fear of dentists.
However, dental phobia is very real and it affects people everywhere to varying degrees. For this very reason, new methods of dentistry were developed to help people cope with or simply get through their next trip to the dentist. The method is called sedation dentistry. The practices range from the use of mild sedatives to heavier sedatives to achieve a fully relaxed state of being, allowing them to get the dental treatment they need.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Nitrous Oxide has been in use by dentists since the 1800s. It is commonly mixed with oxygen in a half and half ratio. For minor procedures, like for instance a teeth cleaning, Nitrous Oxide is a perfectly acceptable anesthesia. While it will not provide any pain relief, it has been very well known for its ability to help patients relax. If a patient's fear dentistry is mild, nitrous oxide might be all that is needed to ease the pressure.
However, for more invasive, or more laborious procedures for you dentist, you will need to also have a local anesthetic administered in order to numb the pain and dull the area.
General Anesthesia:
General Anesthesia refers to any kind of anesthetic that renders the patient unconscious. General Anesthesia, because it leaves the patient unconscious and unaware of their surroundings no other local anesthetics are needed.
When the patient awakes from general anesthesia, they typically remember nothing that happened to them while they were under. The entire procedure is more of a story as opposed to something that has actually happened to them. While they may be sore or need to rest, they will generally be in good spirits.
Oral and Intravenous Sedatives:
Neither oral nor IV sedatives provide pain relief, so they should be used in conjunction with a local anesthetic in order to alleviate pain. However, oral and IV sedatives administered by a dentist can provide a lot of relief for the anxiety that is associated with visiting the dentist.
Oral sedatives can be administered either the night before a procedure or up to 30 minutes before it gets underway. IV sedation, because it is nearly instantaneous, is administered moments before any major dental procedure.
The Risks of Succumbing to a Phobia of the Dentist
While it may seem like a scary proposition at times, not visiting the dentist because of your phobia could have serious detrimental effects on your dental health. Avoidance due to fear can contribute to cavities, infections, and a weakening of the teeth. However, with advances in sedation dentistry, phobia and avoidance of the dentist can become a thing of the past and a bring healthy smile a goal for the future.
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