Can i really sleep through it? 8 common questions about sedation dentistry

If you get anxious during dental visits, did you know you could sleep through it all?

Learn more with these commonly asked questions about sedation dentistry.

You’re dreading it but you have a dental appointment coming up soon. You know that the dentist won’t hurt you but that doesn’t stop you from being jumpy. What if we told you there was a way for you to be relaxed during the entire appointment?

Withsedation dentistry, you’ll be sedated long enough for the dentist to do their job. The procedure is safe and you won’t even remember the procedure when it’s all said and done. Sound good to you?

To help you prepare yourself for the sedation, keep reading for a few common questions that people ask before the procedure.

1. How Does Sedation Dentistry Work?

When you're scheduled to come in for a dental procedure, the dentist will sedate you before they begin. This is how sedation dentistry works. Nitrous oxide, oral sedatives, and intravenous sedatives are the most common methods of dental sedation.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxideis the most common method used for dental sedation. It's a gas that will relax you while your dental procedure is being done. It doesn't last for long so you'll be able to drive yourself home when your procedure is done.

Oral Sedatives

Oral sedatives will calm you down so you're not too nervous but they won't put you to sleep. You are given a pill to take and will have to come in 30-60 min before your appointment to allow time for the medication to work.

You'll still feel sleepy long after the appointment is over so you will have to get someone to drive you home after your appointment.

Intravenous Sedatives

Intravenous sedatives is the IV method. Using it will put you in some form of unconsciousness. How conscious you are, all depends on the sedative that's used.

Some put you all the way to sleep and some put you in this in-between state. You won't be unconscious but you won't be able to remember what happened during the procedure either.

2. Will it Make Me Sleep?

That depends on the level of sedation you choose. Our practice is primary asleep dentistry. See what types of sedation we offer.

All the sedation does is make you feel relaxed and calm so you can get through your dental procedure without your nerves getting in the way.

3. Will I Still Feel Pain?

The dental sedation will lower your awareness of everything going on during the procedure. The dentist will administer local freezing once you are relaxed and/or asleep to lessen or eliminate any discomfort during or following the procedure.

Once everything wears off you may feel a little bit of standard after procedure discomfort.

4. Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

At Twilight Dental Group we have dental anesthetists and Registered nurses on staff. Our team will check over your medical history before giving you the sedative and monitor you closely during the procedure. So, there is little to no risk involved.

As far as children go, fear of the dentist is a normal phobia for them. This being said, dental sedation is a common procedure for them. Rest assured it's as safe for your child as it is for you.

5. Are There Any Side Effects?

There aren't any major side effects of dental sedation other than being groggy for a few hours after the fact. Some people do experience dry mouth or shivering following the sedation.

You may have some leftover soreness after the sedation wears off if you got your tooth pulled for example. That's pretty normal with or without sedation though.

6. Will I Remember the Procedure?

Again, it depends on the level of sedation. For Full general anesthesia, you will have not memory of the procedure. If you choose light sedation or Nitrous, you may remember bits and pieces of your dental visit but it won't be much at all. When you're under sedation, time will feel like it's moving a lot faster than normal. A procedure that took an hour will feel like it only took ten minutes. In other words, time will be moving a little too quick for your mind to keep up with when you're sedated.

7. How Will I Feel When the Procedure is Done?

After the procedure is done, depending on the type of sedation that was used you're going to feel groggy for a while. Generally you will feel back to normal a few hours later.

For that reason, any level of sedation, with the exception of nitrous oxide, will require that you have a ride home.

8. When is Sedation Helpful?

Fear of the dentistisn't the only reason why dental sedation is used. Your dentist may decide to go this route if you have sensitive nerves, you have an allergy to local freezing, you have extensive treatment to be done that may require multiple appointments, or if you have a sensitive gag reflex.

Not only is sedation helpful for people with several different conditions, but it's also good for a variety of procedures as well. Talk to your dentist about sedation before you go in for a root canal, dental implantation, or tooth extraction.

Is Sedation Dentistry Right for You?

Does going to the dentist make you feel nervous? You should talk to them about sedation dentistry.

It can help you get through any procedure no matter how anxious you are with little to no side effects. So try out sedation and relax your dental phobia away.

Do you think dental anesthesia is right or you?Contact usto request a consultation.