According to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, 30% of the population avoids the dentist due to fear. This all-too-common “dental phobia” prevents people from receiving necessary routine dental care, potentially harming the health and functionality of their mouth and smile. Unfortunately, this results in more extensive, frequent, and expensive treatments when dental a crisis arises.
Sedation is an option in Dentistry for patients who:
- Have high levels of fear.
- Have had traumatic dental experiences.
- Have difficulty getting numb.
- Have a bad gag reflex.
- Have very sensitive teeth.
- Have limited time to complete their dental care.
- Have complex dental problems.
- Hate needles and shots.
- Hate noises, smells and tastes associated with dental care.
- Are afraid and embarrassed about their teeth.
- Require long typical reconstruction treatments.
Oral Sedation
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Oral sedative medications such as diazepam can be given to a patient the night before a dentistry procedure or 30 minutes to an hour before the dental appointment, depending on the severity of the anxiety. |
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
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Nitrous oxide works very rapidly, reaching the brain within 20 seconds! Relaxation and pain-killing properties develop after 2 or 3 minutes.
The depth of sedation can be altered from moment to moment, allowing the person who administers the gas to increase or decrease the depth of sedation. Other sedation techniques don’t allow for this. For example, with IV sedation the level of sedation can be deepened easily, but lessening it is difficult. With gas, the effects are almost instantaneous. Nitrous Oxide is very safe. It has few side effects, and no ill effects on the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. Nitrous Oxide has also been found to be very effective in eliminating or minimizing severe gagging. Fortunately, there is no “hangover” effect from the gas. Eliminating it from the body only takes 3 to 5 minutes after it has stopped, making it safe to drive home with no need for an escort. With nitrous oxide, it’s easy to give incremental doses until the desired amount is obtained. The administrator has virtually absolute control over the action of the drug, preventing the possibility of accidental overdoses. While giving incremental doses is possible with IV sedation, it’s not possible with oral sedation. As a result, oral sedation can be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair. |
Conscious Sedation (IV Sedation)
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Intravenous (IV) Sedation Dentistry is a method of providing safe, effective pain and anxiety control. The dose and depth are administered by a specialist anesthesiologist in our office.
Please consult with Dr. Gordon if you have questions about your personal dentistry apprehensions and these techniques. |