SEDATION DENTISTRY AND DENTAL ANXIETY

• What is Sedation Dentistry
• Oral Sedation
• What to do About It
• Common Causes of Dental Anxiety

WHAT IS SEDATION DENTISTRY?

This involves giving the patient medication in some form which alters their state of consciousness, normally in order to decrease dental anxiety. There are several different levels of sedation, such as being put completely to sleep to the quickly reversible use of nitrous oxide . If you are put completely to sleep, you probably won't remember anything that happens, whereas with nitrous oxide, you will be completely conscious and coherent, but will be more relaxed.

ORAL SEDATION:

Often times patients are given oral sedatives prior to their dental appointment, such as benzodiazepam, which will relax the patient but the patient will remain completely conscious during the appointment. When this is done, the patient normally will need a ride to and from the dental appointment.

Oral sedatives can also be combined with nitrous oxide in order to increase the sedation slightly.

One of the most common comments heard in the dental office is,

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT:

• If your dentist does not ask you about it, MENTION IT.
• DISCUSS what you are nervous about, and what the dentist can do to reduce it. Below is a list of common sources of dental anxiety.
• If your dentist is NOT WILLING to take the time to discuss your anxiety, you might want to reconsider your choice of dentists.
• Consider NITROUS OXIDE

• Consider ORAL SEDATION DENTISTRY

COMMON SOURCES OF DENTAL ANXIETY:

• Fear of shots
• Bad experiences as a child
• Embarrassed about dental condition
• Not knowing what is going to happen or what is going on
• Fear of potential dollar costs
• Not being able to stop the dentist