I Don’t Have Dental Anxiety; Can Sedation Dentistry Still Help Me?

Dental anxiety and phobias are unfortunately common problems that have prevented countless patients from getting the help they need to avert serious oral health issues. Thankfully, dental sedation has allowed many people who are nervous about dental care to enjoy effective oral health treatments. However, you may not be aware that these treatments can help patients with issues other than fear and anxiety. Here’s a brief guide of how sedation dentistry may be able to help you even if you aren’t apprehensive.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry includes a variety of treatments designed to lower a patient’s sensation of pain, induce a sense of calm and wellbeing, and help them sit still throughout their treatment. A few popular sedation methods include:

Nitrous oxide: Also called laughing gas, this odorless vapor can safely induce a temporary sense of calm and reduce sensitivity to pain. Its effects quickly dissipate after the treatment ends, so patients can expect to be able to drive themselves home or back to work afterward.

Oral conscious sedation: Your dentist prescribes you a pill to be taken briefly before your procedure. The drug will induce a deep sense of calm while leaving you awake and able to respond to questions and instructions. The effects take several hours to fade, so you will need a trusted individual to drive you home afterward.

What Issues Other than Anxiety Can Sedation Dentistry Address?

Sedation dentistry can address a range of issues other than anxiety such as:

• Difficulty sitting still: Some people have a hard time not moving for extended periods due to health conditions or even simply having lots of energy. Sedation dentistry can help them stay still while receiving care.
• Longer procedures: A patient receiving extensive dental care may benefit from sedation dentistry since it can make it easier to sit in one place for several hours.
• A powerful gag reflex: The gag reflex has saved countless lives from choking, but it can get in the way of dental care if it is overactive. Sedation dentistry can help a patient with a sensitive gag reflex receive care comfortably.

Regular dental care is essential to keeping your teeth healthy and functional for life. Sedation dentistry may be able to help you enjoy effective oral health treatments even if you aren’t nervous about seeing your dentist.

About the Author

Dr. Travis A. Markle earned his dental degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and worked with the Indian Health Service in White Earth, MN. He is a Fellow in the Academy of Genera Dentistry and an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. His office in Tyler offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as sedation services. To learn more about the benefits of dental sedation, contact his office online or dial (903) 597-7902.