Sedation dentistry is basically the application of soothing tactics like anesthesia to keep patients relaxed during the usually painful act of dental treatment and repairs. People having dentistry phobia, especially children and those required to be in the treatment seat for prolonged periods of time are the ones who are put under sedation by dentists. Sedation does not really mean total sleep, but in dentistry, it is a process of putting the patients under a trance to assuage fear, pain or any uncomfortable feeling.
It is up to the dentist to determine the type and level of sedation needed for a patient before the treatment procedure begins. Intravenous drugs are injected for deep sedation. Most patients require retrained sedation only with oral sedatives, nitrous oxide etc.
People with dental phobia dread visiting the dentist, his office and even the tools. Even in case of dire situations they try to postpone the session with the dentist. On the other hand, some suffer form dental anxiety, which is a lesser form of dental phobia. Whatever may be the condition both categories of people are at the losing edge, since they hesitate to avail the services of a dentist. The result would be poor dental health. Most of the time children are taken to the dentist by force against their wishes.
Throughout the treatment process such people are kept unperturbed and tranquil with the help of sedation dentistry. If the treatment takes only shorter duration, oral sedatives are given keep them relaxed. These oral sedatives are not pain relievers and a local anesthetic is injected for it. If the treatment is a lengthy procedure, general anesthesia is applied for keeping the patient unconscious. Local anesthetic is not at all needed here, since the patient is totally out of senses.
People respond differently to sedation dentistry. For anxiolysis or light sedation, nitrous oxide gas or laughing gas is used by the dentists. Intravenous sedative is applied for moderate sedation. The patient would be fully awake in both the cases. In the case of deep sedation, a state between unconsciousness and consciousness is brought about and the patient remains relaxed but able to follow commands. By applying anesthesia, very deep sedation or unconsciousness is achieved and this is normally used for performing surgeries.
It is up to the dentist to determine the type and level of sedation needed for a patient before the treatment procedure begins. Intravenous drugs are injected for deep sedation. Most patients require retrained sedation only with oral sedatives, nitrous oxide etc.
People with dental phobia dread visiting the dentist, his office and even the tools. Even in case of dire situations they try to postpone the session with the dentist. On the other hand, some suffer form dental anxiety, which is a lesser form of dental phobia. Whatever may be the condition both categories of people are at the losing edge, since they hesitate to avail the services of a dentist. The result would be poor dental health. Most of the time children are taken to the dentist by force against their wishes.
Throughout the treatment process such people are kept unperturbed and tranquil with the help of sedation dentistry. If the treatment takes only shorter duration, oral sedatives are given keep them relaxed. These oral sedatives are not pain relievers and a local anesthetic is injected for it. If the treatment is a lengthy procedure, general anesthesia is applied for keeping the patient unconscious. Local anesthetic is not at all needed here, since the patient is totally out of senses.
People respond differently to sedation dentistry. For anxiolysis or light sedation, nitrous oxide gas or laughing gas is used by the dentists. Intravenous sedative is applied for moderate sedation. The patient would be fully awake in both the cases. In the case of deep sedation, a state between unconsciousness and consciousness is brought about and the patient remains relaxed but able to follow commands. By applying anesthesia, very deep sedation or unconsciousness is achieved and this is normally used for performing surgeries.
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