Sedation
Dentistry
What
is sedation dentistry?
Sedation
dentistry is the use of medications
to reduce anxiety in dental patients.
Sedation dentistry is primarily used
to alleviate patient fears and calm
those who may have trouble remaining
still during surgery. While these
problems are fairly common, dentists
who have expertise in sedation are
not, making their skills a valued
commodity.
What
are the different types of sedation?
Types
of sedation used in dentistry include
anti-anxiety drugs, ‘conscious’
sedatives, ‘deep’ sedatives,
and general anesthesia.
Anti-anxiety
drugs induce a state of relaxation.
The most commonly used anti-anxiety
drug is nitrous oxide, also known
as laughing gas. These medications
make no provisions for pain, so they
are used in conjunction with a local
anesthetic.
A
step above anti-anxiety drugs are
sedatives that bring about what is
termed ‘conscious sedation.’
These sedatives can be administered
orally, intravenously, or through
inhalation. When one of these sedatives
is administered, the patient enters
an extremely relaxed state: he or
she will still be responsive to touch
or speech, but will not acknowledge
fears or the urge to make dramatic
movements. These sedatives also must
be accompanied by a local anesthetic.
Slightly
more powerful sedatives can bring
about what is termed ‘deep
sedation.’ These are preferred
for patients who have a lot of trouble
controlling movement, including children.
Deep sedation includes a loss of feeling
and reduced consciousness. The patient
may not consistently respond to commands,
and may need assistance breathing.
The effects of deep sedation may take
a short while after the procedure
to wear off.
A
final option is general anesthesia.
This induces a temporary loss of consciousness,
in which the patient will exhibit
no responses. The airway closes down,
and the patient must have mechanically-assisted
respiration. After the procedure is
completed, the anesthesiologist reverses
the effect, bringing the patient back
to consciousness.
Who
is a candidate?
The
most appropriate candidates for sedation
dentistry are those who suffer from
dental anxiety or dental phobia. Dental
anxiety results in exaggerated fears
about dentist visits, while dental
phobia is more overpowering. Patients
with this condition may skip scheduled
dentist visits because of their fears.
Children
and adults who, because of conditions
such as cerebral palsy, lack control
over physical movements can also benefit
from sedation dentistry.
A
qualified sedation dentist can advise
patients on whether or not they are
good candidates for a procedure.
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