People who find themselves feeling nervous when it is time for a dental appointment can benefit from sleep dentistry. If people do not address this anxiety, they will struggle with the dental phobia and end up missing crucial dental appointments.
Failing to address any developing dental issues will eventually lead to even more serious dental issues. In addition, visiting a dentist twice a year is an important part of preventative dentistry. When you see your dentist frequently, you are less likely to develop any dental issues that require invasive treatments.
Benefits that you need to know about
There is no need to let your fear put your dental health at risk. With sedation dentistry, you will be relaxed and calm the next time you need a procedure done at the dentist's office. Other benefits of sleep dentistry include:
- You are more likely to ask questions and voice your concerns when you are relaxed
- Time seems to pass quickly under sedation, allowing your dentist to complete the dental work without issue
- Your dental anxiety will reduce with each positive experience at the dentist's office
- Any developing issues will be addressed in a timely manner
- You will save more money by making regular appointments and preventing serious dental issues
Two popular options for sleep dentistry include nitrous oxide and oral sedation.
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide is one of the more popular options when it comes to dealing with dental anxiety. It can help people deal with moderate to mild cases of dental anxiety. Nitrous oxide is completely safe to use on adults and children, with the proper professional supervision. Since a child is smaller than an adult, the dentist will measure out the proper amount to avoid causing other problems for the patient.
The gas is commonly known as laughing gas since it places people in a calm and cheerful mode, making them prone to bursts of laughter. It allows the patient to go through dental procedures without experiencing any fear or anxiety. Most dentists administer nitrous oxide with a mask that covers the patient's nose and mouth. It is a fast-acting gas that begins to affect the patient within minutes of inhalation.
Nitrous oxide also wears off within minutes of removing the mask, so patients are fine to drive themselves home. Other effects of nitrous oxide include:
- Numbness in the mouth
- Tingling in the feet and hands
- A warm feeling throughout the body
- A happy feeling
- Limbs feel heavy
Patients do not lose consciousness when using the proper amount of nitrous oxide. There is also no drowsiness associated with it. Once the procedure is over, the patient will feel like their normal self within a few minutes.
Oral Sedation
Pills are also an alternative option for sedative dentistry. The patient will take prescribed pills an hour before his/her appointment. Valium is a common choice for oral sedation. The pills relax the patient and make them drowsy before the procedure. Oral sedation is a good solution for patients who have a fear of needles.
While most people remain conscious after taking an oral sedative, it is not uncommon for patients to fall asleep under the influence of these drugs. A simple nudge is often enough to wake the patient up when this happens. With the fact that oral sedation often makes patients drowsy, it is best to have someone chauffeur the patient to and from the dentist's office. Want to learn more about sleep dentistry? Contact one of our dentists today.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Pier 210 Dental Group, request an appointment in our Auburn dental office here: https://pier210dental.com. Or call us at (530) 885-5696.
