Dental Care For Patients With Sedation Dentistry

Getting the dental care you need shouldn’t be stressful. Sedation dentistry is an important option for patients with dental anxiety.

Start by gathering referrals from friends and family members. Once you have a list, prioritize local Millersburg practices. Verify that each dentist has experience relevant to your distinct needs.

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, is an inhalable gas that can help reduce anxiety and pain during a dental procedure. It works by altering the brain’s pain and pleasure receptors, creating a euphoric effect. It’s safe, noninvasive and completely reversible once the mask is removed.

Patients with anxiety, fear of pain, or a gag reflex are good candidates for sedation dentistry Millersburg KY. Patients with medical conditions, like a heart condition or respiratory issues, may need additional tests before they can be administered sedation.

Nitrous oxide is administered through a small mask that covers the nose during treatment. The patient remains awake and able to respond to questions from the dentist, but feels calm and relaxed. Ample oxygen is given after sedation to clear the drug and restore alertness. It’s important to make sure the dental staff is trained properly and has a plan for emergencies before using sedation. Nitrous oxide has a long history of safety and is regarded as one of the safer sedatives available.

Oral sedatives

If you have severe anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or medical conditions like an autoimmune disease, oral sedatives may help you relax and get the dental care you need. They are available in pill form and can be used to provide mild, moderate or deep sedation. Before prescribing an oral sedative, the dentist analyzes your complete medical history.

Oral sedatives are usually medications from the benzodiazepines group that can reduce anxiety, muscle spasms, insomnia and seizures. Valium, for example, has amnesic properties and a long half-life; it is often prescribed for longer procedures.

Patients who undergo oral sedation will need to arrange for someone to drive them home after their appointment, as the medication can impair reaction times. It’s best to take it easy at home and rest until the effects of the sedative wear off. Unlike nitrous oxide, oral sedatives require an hour or two to wear off. Some patients may feel groggy afterward, but most remember their appointment almost entirely.

IV sedation

Medications are administered through an intravenous tube, allowing dentists to control their effectiveness. Typically, a low dose of the potent sedative dexmedetomidine is continuously dripped through an IV for the duration of your treatment. This allows the sedative to have a consistent effect on your body, reducing the risk of an overdose.

Benzodiazepines are often used to induce a trance-like state and block pain receptors in the brain. Examples include Midazolam and Diazepam. They both have a long half-life and can last for up to 12 hours, so they are typically used for longer procedures.

Ketamine is another drug commonly used in IV sedation. This medication is derived from a psychedelic drug and works within a minute to put you into a trance-like state. It’s a great choice for patients with high dental anxiety because it creates a state of short-term amnesia, so you won’t remember the treatment. It’s also an ideal choice for elderly patients who may experience discomfort with oral surgery or have more complicated oral procedures that require longer periods of sedation.

Schedule your appointment

A sedation dentist can help ease your anxieties about going to the dentist. It also makes dental procedures much faster. Additionally, a sedation dentist will be more likely to listen to your concerns and address them in their treatment.

The most popular type of sedation dentistry Millersburg KY is nitrous oxide inhalation, commonly known as laughing gas. This form of sedation is effective for mild anxiety and most patients do not experience any lingering effects after the procedure.

For more severe anxiety, you can opt for oral conscious sedation, which is a pill-based option that uses drugs such as midazolam and zaleplon. This sedation is also called twilight sleep and patients often have no recollection of the dental procedure. Patients using this sedation will need to have a friend or family member drive them home after the appointment because their senses are impaired.

Getting personal recommendations from friends and family members is one of the best ways to find a local dentist that provides sedation services in Millersburg. Make sure to prioritize dentists that can provide proof of their credentials and additional training.