For patients who are particularly anxious or nervous about visiting the dentist, dental sedation can help. Don't let fear or anxiety prevent you from getting the dental treatment you need and deserve. Here's more from our Surrey dentists about dental sedation.
Dental sedation may be right for you if you suffer from high levels of anxiety or oral sensitivity. Dental sedation can help you get through anything from cleanings to more invasive dental procedures.
The severity of the patient's fear and anxiety dictates how dental sedation is used. Here are the four main types of dental sedation.
- Minimal sedation: With minimal sedation the patient will not fall asleep. This type of sedation causes patients to feel relaxed but still able to walk, talk and breathe normally.
- Moderate sedation: Patients under moderate sedation will feel drowsy but still be able to talk, hear and respond. While under moderate sedation, patients still require a local anesthetic for pain management at the treatment site. Patients may or may not remember the procedure once it's finished.
- Deep sedation: Patients are asleep when under deep sedation and won't remember anything about the dental procedure. A local anesthetic at the site of the treatment is still required since pain reflexes are still active.
- General anesthesia: When general anesthesia is used the patient will be unconscious (feel as if they're asleep) and won't feel any pain during the treatment. Reflexes will be absent and the patient will require assistance breathing. This is the deepest level of sedation.
If you suffer from dental anxiety, general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, resistance to local anesthetic or unusually sensitive oral nerves, dental sedation may be right for you. Sedation requirements are considered by our dentists on a case-by-case basis so make an appointment with your dentist if you feel that dental sedation could help you.