Dental Care and Special Needs: Planning for Success

Posted on: 15 April 2022

When you hate going to the dentist, even simple cleanings or procedures such as cavity fillings can fill you with an overwhelming sense of dread. Because of your anxiety about the visits, your dentist may have discussed with you the possibility of receiving sedation.

However, the thought of being sedated may cause you to be hesitant because of some misinformation you have heard about it. Below is the truth behind a couple of these misconceptions about receiving sedation during a dental procedure to help ease your doubts.

1.  You Can Only Get Sedation for Procedures Involving Major Dental Work

One misconception that you may have about dental sedation is that you can only receive it during major procedures. You may have heard that the dentist will only offer it for such major dental work as root canals or wisdom teeth removal.

However, you can request it for relatively minor procedures, such as cavity fillings. Especially if your anxiety levels are high or you have extremely sensitive teeth, you may even be able to have a small amount of sedation during routine cleanings. You can discuss the possibility of its use with your dentist before any type of dental work so that you can determine together whether or not it will be beneficial.

2.  You Have to Be Put to Sleep When You Receive Sedation from Your Dentist

Another misconception you may have is that all types of sedation will put you to sleep. When you think of sedation, you may think about general anesthesia that completely knocks you out.

While general anesthesia is often an option for major work, it is not the only one. You can choose to be sedated with medication or nitrous oxide gas that leaves you partially aware but relaxed.

You can also opt for conscious or twilight sedation that puts you into a dreamlike state. This type of sedation can be given to you using either intravenous medications or in pill form. Your dentist can help you decide which method would work best for your situation.

Especially if you have anxiety or other issues with any type of dental work, sedation may be a good way for you to relax during the procedure while making you more comfortable and easing your misgivings. Since there are several methods of sedation available, you and your dental professional can discuss which one would be most ideal for you. If you have any further questions, contact an office that offers sedation dentistry.