Seeing the dentist can be a stressful experience. This is particularly true if you're having major work done to a tooth, such as filling a cavity or having a root canal performed. In these times, sedation or sleep dentistry may be best. It comes with a lot of important benefits.
Anxiety Relief
If you've never been to the dentist before, the stress may be overwhelming. You don't really know what to expect and, as a result, your mind likely starts to race. In this case, sedation dentistry may be appropriate. It can be used to relieve this anxiety, making whatever procedure you're having done easier to deal with.
To treat anxiety, the dentist can give you a mild sedative. It won't put you out completely, but it will alleviate feelings of fear and anxiousness. The substance they administer is often referred to as laughing gas, and it's highly effective at settling your nerves prior to a procedure.
Decrease Gag Reflexes
A natural response that happens to a lot of people while at the dentist is gagging. The moment an instrument is placed in or around their mouth, they start to gag. Although this is perfectly normal, it can hinder the dentist from making precise movements with the instrument in their hands.
Sedation dentistry is perfect for decreasing these gag reflexes. Nitrogen oxide can be administered to ease tension and relax your throat muscles. Then, the dentist can go in with their devices, and you won't have the urge to gag. This helps ensure a safe and smooth procedure.
Get Through Multiple Procedures Easier
There may be a point in time when you need to do multiple dental procedures on the same day. Without any sort of sedation, your nerves and body may not be able to handle surgeries back to back.
Fortunately, with sedation dentistry, your dentist can keep you calm through every procedure. You'll receive a mild sedative that will keep your thoughts from racing. Your body also will be relaxed, which helps the doctor complete the necessary steps for each procedure. Even hours in the dentist's chair will be manageable thanks to these sedatives.
Going to the dentist can be a scary experience for a lot of people today. It's perfectly normal to fear the unknown, but thankfully, sedation dentistry exists. It can help the dentist in so many ways, from calming your nerves to keeping your body still while they work.
