Sedation dentistry farmers branch texas champion dental clinic

The Complete Guide to Sedation Dentistry

Answers to Your Questions About Sleep Dentistry

Sedation dentistry farmers branch texas champion dental clinic

If you are nervous about going to a dentist, especially when you know a tooth needs to be pulled – or for any treatment, sedation dentistry may be just what you need. Sedation dentistry helps you to relax while you are in the dentist’s chair and being treated. Instead of panicking, you can be calm – and awake.

 

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry, which also goes by the name of sleep dentistry or twilight dentistry, is a method of relaxing a patient while undergoing a dental procedure. Many patients greatly fear the dentist’s chair – so much so, that they are willing rather to endure a lot of pain and ignore even necessary treatment. 

Various medications are available to help patients relax with anesthesia, but they are not given enough to render them unconscious. The different medications used will depend on the amount of anxiety. It may also just mean that you are given an extra dose of the anesthesia. 

 

Who can go for sedation dentistry?

Since there are different types of sedation dentistry, the dentist will decide on the best kind, depending on the patient’s needs. If a patient is afraid of needles, for instance, the dentist would not want to recommend IV sedation dentistry. The very thought of it for such a person would likely cause more fear than the treatment would. 

People who would be the most likely candidates come under different categories. They might include people who have:

  • Had a bad dental experience in the past
  • A resistance to local anesthetics
  • Especially sensitive nerves in the mouth
  • A phobia about dental procedures 
  • General anxiety disorder. 

Sedation dental care can be given for any type of dental care, but it is not usually used for ordinary procedures such as teeth cleaning. In some cases, however, it may be applied as needed. 

Patients who have medical problems or mental conditions may need to get a clearance from their doctor before undergoing twilight dentistry. Problems that may require it include people with hypertension, cardiac disease, respiratory diseases, and diabetes. 

 

What can you expect from sedation dentistry?

When the dentist administers a medication to help you relax, you will still be awake and know what is going on around you. The strength, or dose, of the gas or medication will determine how anxious or alert you are. In general, you will be conscious and still able to respond to the dentist. 

Even though the medication will make you very relaxed, you will still be given some local anesthetic. By that time, you will be very relaxed and are not apt to be bothered about it at all. Besides that, the medication will cause you not to remember it anyway. 

While you are sedated, the dentist and staff will watch your vital signs. They will monitor your pulse, blood pressure, your respiratory rates and your oxygen saturation level. 

 

Different types of sedation used

There are several types of sedation that are commonly used. General sedation, which means being totally unconscious is not considered a part of sedation dentistry, but it may also be available for some treatments. The three types include:

  • Nitrous oxide – This gas is also called “laughing gas” and it is administered through a mask over the nose. Once the treatment is completed, you will be given pure oxygen which will bring you out of the relaxation state quickly – and you will probably even be able to drive home. 
  • Oral sedation – This method provides a pill to enable patients to relax. No needles are necessary to be comfortable, but local injections are still likely to be used. The pill most commonly used is Halcion, and it can produce a minimal to moderate level of sedation. It is given about an hour in advance of treatment. 
  • IV sedation – This method of relaxing patients is quick because it is given directly into a vein. It can also be adjusted easily as needed by the dentist at any time during the procedure. It will enable a deeper level of sedation. Coming back to normal levels of consciousness will take some time. 

 

Is sedation dentistry safe?

Sedation dentistry is considered safe, but there are some precautions. An important concern is that the dentist needs to be aware of any prescriptions and supplements that you are taking in advance. Interactions between the anesthesia and other medicines and supplements could have serious side effects if the dentist is not aware of them. 

Dentists are trained to use certain types of medications for sedation. Each type requires different training, so it may be rather common for a dentist to bring in another doctor or dentist who is trained to monitor the patient. 

 

Cost of sedation dentistry

When you choose to get sedation dentistry, it will cost more than traditional local anesthesia. If you choose intravenous sedation, the cost will range from $290 to $340 for 30 minutes. After that, it will cost an additional $100 for every 15 minutes. Other types of sedation will cost around $175. 

 

If you live in the Farmers Branch TX area, you can get sedation dentistry from Champion Dental clinic . We offer painless dentistry and many other dental services. For more information about his services, or to set up an appointment, you can call our office at 214-747-0763

how to ease dental anxiety or dental phobia

How to Ease Your Fear of Dentist

Get the Dental Treatment You Need Without Fear

how to ease dental anxiety or dental phobia

If you have a fear of going to the dentist, you need to be aware that there is a realistic solution. It will not only help you to relax more at the thought of going to the dentist, but it will also enable you to get the dental treatment you need. Dental phobia does not have to stand in the way of getting healthy teeth and gums. 

 

Many People Have Fear of Dentists

If you have fear of dentists, you certainly are not alone. There are many others who share that same phobia with you. The University of Harvard estimates that there is about a 20 percent average for people all over the world. Being afraid of dentists prevents many people from getting the treatment needed until the pain or problem becomes almost intolerable. 

 

Reasons You Need to Get That Treatment

Maintaining healthy teeth is not something that takes place on its own. While brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing will certainly help your teeth last longer, some problems are apt to develop that will require the attention of a dentist. 

A dentist will not only put fillings in, but they can also help you keep a beautiful smile. A dentist may also be the first to spot gum disease problems or oral cancer. In both cases, early treatment can help you – and may even save your life. 

Gum disease is an infection of the gums. It has recently been discovered that inflammation from this infection is behind many other major health problems. They include diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and many more. 

 

Tips for Overcoming Fear of Dentist

There are several things that can be done to help you with overcoming fear of dentist. Some dentists will help their patients with their fears, and others might be less inclined.  

  • Tell the Dentist – by letting the dentist know about your dental phobia, they can work with you and do things to help you be more relaxed. Even if you do not tell the dentist, you can be sure that your fear will be evident in ways you might not even realize. It will also help you to feel more in control in the chair.
  • Play Music – many dentist offices will now play relaxing music to help their patients relax. If you are not sure whether or not a dentist does this, you can bring your own CD or MP3 player and listen to the music of your choice while being worked on.
  • See a Dentist Regularly – while this may seem counterintuitive, the truth is that the longer you wait to see a dentist, the more work that there is that needs to be done. This may result in greater pain. 

You can keep the length of dental appointments shorter by taking care of the little things as they occur. Waiting longer between treatments may require extractions, root canals, and other treatments you probably would prefer not to need. 

  • Watch a Video or TV – some dentists will have a TV playing while they are working on your teeth. If there is a TV, it is for the purpose of reducing dental anxiety. Of course, it will not be easy to follow a program, since the dentist will have their head or hands in the way at times. Some dental offices may even provide VR glasses to keep you entertained. 
  • Choose Sedation Dentistry – if you do not feel that you can relax any other way, oral sedation dentistry may help. There are two types of oral sedation: one simply involves taking a pill – no needles, and the other involves breathing through a mask with nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Both will help you relax and let you still respond to the dentist. IV sedation is given through a needle in your arm, and it also lets you respond to the dentist. 

General anesthesia is where a dentist can put you to sleep while performing the necessary dental procedures you need. This way it cannot bother you at all – completely asleep and without pain.

  • Get an Early Appointment – If your appointment is later in the afternoon, this gives you time to think about it and dread it even more – making you even more anxious about it. If you make the appointment in the morning, it does not give you time to think about it as much, reducing your tension. 

Your fear of going to the dentist can be responded to in ways that are designed to help you relax. By focusing on the positive aspects of dentistry, such as your teeth will not hurt after they get the treatment they need, and the dentist is only trying to help you, will also help you relax. 

If you need dental treatment and have dental phobia, Champion Dental, Farmers Branch , Texas can help you. We offer sedation dentistry for patients who need it and our expert dentists are professional and comforting in their approach. Call 214-747-0763 today to schedule your dental anxiety free appointment .