Doctor Dawar

SEDATION DENTISTRY

What is Inhalation Sedation?

Nitrous oxide (or happy gas) reduces anxiety and helps the patient feel relaxed. It also has a numbing effect so, in some cases, an injection is not necessary. A mask is placed over the patient’s nose prior to the commencement of dental treatment, enabling the nitrous oxide gas to be inhaled.

It starts to take effect in minutes, making the patient pleasantly relaxed. When used in conjunction with listening to music through earphones, the inhalation of nitrous oxide is particularly effective. Once the dental procedure is complete, the inhalation of the nitrous oxide is then ceased and the patient returns to their normal state rapidly.WE ARE USING THIS MACHINE FOR LAST 5 YEARS WITH GREAT RESULTS.

Sedation Dentistry

Most of people avoid going to the dentist because of “misconceptions and fears.” Here are a few strategies to help combat dental anxiety and phobia.

Sedation dentistry is used to provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience for certain people receiving dental treatment. It enables individuals too afraid to go to the dentist to receive the dental care they need while avoiding the common apprehension known as dental phobia.

According to to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS Education), a professional dental organization dedicated to ensuring that patients receive safe, comfortable and anxiety-free dental care, 30 percent of the population avoids the dentist due to fear. This all-too-common “dental phobia” prevents people from receiving necessary routine dental care, potentially compromising the health and functionality of their mouth and smile.

What Is Sedation?

Sedation is a process used to establish a relaxed, easy and calm state through the use of sedatives. Sedative drugs (tranquillizers, depressants, antianxiety medications, nitrous oxide, etc.) can be administered in a variety of ways. In the past, intravenous (IV) sedation – sedatives delivered via injection into the blood vessels of the hand or arm – was predominantly used to sedate a dental patient. IV sedation is both safe and effective when administered by a trained professional.

Today, however, sedation dentistry has evolved to be even more conducive to a relaxing experience. Patients have alternatives to the traditional modalities of inhalation (nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”) and IVs, such as those offering a “no needle” (meaning, no injection) approach that many people find more appealing.

Oral sedation dentistry is now the most common technique used in the United States and Canada to quell patient fears. The technique is easy and requires no needles. Best of all, the medications create such a comfortable experience that most patients do not remember the visit; it is as if they slept through the treatment. In reality, oral sedation dentistry maintains a level of consciousness in the patient for safety and cooperation. Note that sedation is different from anesthetic injections.

Although some forms of sedation (such as nitrous oxide gas) may raise your threshold for pain, most dental treatments still require a local anesthetic injected in the mouth, even when sedation dentistry techniques are performed. This local anesthetic will temporarily block pain impulses from the affected teeth and gum tissue.

However, this injection will occur after you are already sedated and comfortable, so most likely you won’t be bothered by or remember the sensation of having the injection.

Regardless of the type of sedation dentistry you receive, it is important to have a responsible caregiver accompany you to the procedure (and drive you there if you must take oral medication before arriving for your appointment). The caregiver should drive you home after the procedure is complete and stay with you for an additional two to four hours at home.

Benefits

One of the major benefits of sedation dentistry is that people often feel like their dental procedure lasts only a few minutes, when in fact it might have taken hours to perform. Therefore, complex dental procedures such as smile makeovers or extensive rebuilding procedures that normally require multiple visits can often be performed in fewer appointments.

If you are reluctant to change the appearance of your smile because you are afraid or anxious about undergoing long or complicated dental procedures, sedation dentistry can make you feel comfortable during the treatment process and help you achieve a smile you can be proud of. Also, because sedation dentistry addresses some of the fears that keep people from going to the dentist on a regular basis, sedation dentistry patients are more likely to receive recommended routine care. As a result, they are less likely to neglect their oral health or allow oral health problems to build to the point.

When drastic dental treatments become necessary. Sleep Dentistry or Sedation Dentistry? Sedation dentistry has occasionally been dubbed sleep dentistry, but this term is misleading. In actual fact, you do not sleep during the procedure, but because of the effects produced by the sedative, you may feel sleepy. Sedation dentistry enables you to be kept awake throughout the entire procedure, but you will feel relaxed and likely won’t remember much about your treatment. The use of general anesthesia is not considered sedation dentistry.

Anxiolysis: Anxiolysis is defined by minimal or mild sedation and is associated with relieving anxiety. Inhalation analgesia (also known as nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”) is one of the more commonly requested types of anesthesia from people who have anxieties about their procedure.

It is administered via a small nose-hood placed over the nose through which nitrous oxide is delivered prior to and throughout treatment. In addition to some tingling and numbness, nitrous oxide typically evokes an overall feeling of well-being. Pills can also be used to create a feeling of anxiolysis.

It is important for you to be open and honest with your dentist about any past drug use or current medical conditions so that an appropriate medication may be selected. Education: Inquire about the dentist and staff members’ specific level of education in sedation dentistry. There is limited training provided by dental schools specific to sedation dentistry.

However, continuing education programs provided by organizations such as the DOCS Education offer more specialized training programs.  Your Medical History and Medications: Bring a complete list of your medical history, including any medications and supplements you are taking, and review the list with the dentist to ensure that sedation dentistry is the right choice for your particular situation.