What Is Dental Sedation?

If you have an appointment with the dentist marked on your calendar and you’re feeling some fear and anxiety around it, you’re certainly not alone. Over 35% of people have a fear of the dentist, with over 12% struggling with extreme dental anxiety.

Visiting the dentist is inevitable – and vital for your oral health – but luckily, sedation dentistry can help you manage your anxiety. There are a few ways that you can be sedated during a complicated procedure.

Your local dentist in Mississauga has the tools and techniques to help you relax and help manage pain during the procedure.

Keep reading to learn more about sedation dentistry and where to find the best dental office.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry involves using different techniques to help calm an anxious patient. These vary from oral sedation, IV sedation, and nitrous oxide. Sedation is used for the following procedures:

• Removal of wisdom teeth
• Root canals
• Tooth infections
• Dental Implants
• Bone grafting
• Teeth pulling

Sedation is generally required if you need one of these procedures. Talking to an experienced dentist in Mississauga can help you determine what type of sedation is right for you.

What Are the Types of Dental Sedation?

There are three main types of dental sedation. The right dental practice will feature all of these options and give you the right advice on which one is suitable for your procedure and your needs.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is commonly known as laughing gas. It is used for both adults and children while they are in the dentist’s chair.

With this type of sedation, you are awake and aware of your surroundings, but you feel much more tranquil and relaxed. The dentist will put a mask over your nose and you breathe in deeply to feel the effects. Within minutes, the laughing gas begins to work and you feel more at ease.

Nitrous oxide does not last very long. With other types of sedation, you might feel the effects for a few hours after the procedure and you won’t be able to drive yourself home. With laughing gas, the effects wear off quickly and you are safe to drive.

You can benefit from nitrous oxide for a root canal and even teeth cleaning. However, it is not as effective in pain management. You might still need numbing or a local anesthetic to help with pain during a procedure.

This form of sedation also comes with the least risk. If there are any side effects, they will cease once the dentist removes the gas mask from your nose.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation comes in the form of prescription medication. Your dentist can prescribe you a pill that you take before you come in for the procedure and after you have fasted. This eases fear, makes you feel drowsy, but keeps you semi-conscious.

Many patients are so relaxed that they cannot remember the procedure. Because this is a mild or moderate level of sedation, you will need someone to assist in driving you to the appointment and picking you up. If your child is undergoing a procedure that requires oral sedation, they should not be going to school after the visit.

Be sure to have assistance while taking an oral sedative or supervise your child if they are taking this medication. It can take several hours for the medication to wear off.

IV Sedation

This is a moderate form of dental sedation and it is used for a variety of procedures. Your dentist can recommend IV sedation for a root canal, a tooth extraction, or if you are a patient that suffers from extreme fear of the dentist.

With IV sedation, the dentist will put an IV into a vein in your arm that releases medication as the dentist moves through the procedure. You will be unconscious during the process but you can still be woken up.

You will also have an oxygen mask on your face to ensure that you are getting enough oxygen.

Why Choose Limelight Dental for Sedation Dentistry

There are a few things to consider when choosing the right dentist. You want to ensure that the best dentist is well-experienced with a caring and compassionate approach towards your needs.

Our team at Limelight Dental offers personalized service and care for each patient that walks into our office. From a responsive administrative team to our oral health specialists, we provide quality care every through every stage of your appointment.

We also offer dental services for the entire family. From your baby’s first tooth to the proper denture fitting and everything in between, your family can benefit from one trusted dental office for all of their needs. We take a proactive approach to dental care to help preserve the health of your teeth and keep your smile shining brightly.

If you experience dental anxiety, we also feature dental sedation services to help you alleviate your fears. Be sure to check out our website for a full list of services and procedures.

Talk to Your Dentist In Mississauga About Sedation Dentistry

While having dental anxiety is a common condition, there are ways to help you manage your fears. A great dentist in Mississauga will talk you through your concerns and help you decide on a form of dental sedation to suit your unique needs. Laughing gas, oral sedation, and IV sedation are all types of dental sedation that can help you get through your dentist appointment.

If you’re looking for the best dentist near Mississauga, visit our website and make an appointment and find out about our sedation dentistry.