Major Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry can alleviate your anxiety about going to the dentist. Dental work can be scary to some people, often because people are worried about getting a painful injection or experiencing discomfort during the procedure. However, with sedation dentistry, patients don’t experience any pain or discomfort and often feel more relaxed about their appointment than they would without it. Here are a few benefits of sedation dentistry. 

Anterograde amnesia

Some forms of sedation dentistry include anterograde amnesia. This means that patients will not remember anything that happens during their appointment after they’ve fallen asleep. This is ideal if a patient has a bad experience at the dental office and wants to avoid remembering it. Patients who are receiving cosmetic procedures may also prefer this type of amnesia so they won’t remember what they look like afterward.

A patient may experience anterograde amnesia with oral sedatives, nitrous oxide, or IV moderate sedation. Patients can expect to experience partial to no memory of the procedure afterward; however, some patients report being able to remember certain aspects of their procedure. If patients are receiving general anesthesia, they will not be able to have any memory of their treatment.

Reduction in gag reflex

If you experience anxiety during dental treatments, sedation dentistry can help to alleviate your worry and discomfort. A reduction in gag reflex is just one of many benefits you can look forward to as a result of receiving sedative medication. During a restorative or cosmetic procedure, the dentist will need to access the tooth by removing decay and shaping the enamel before placing a crown or other restoration. Since several of these steps involve the use of drills and air abrasion systems, patients may experience an increase in their gag reflex during this time. Fortunately, sedated dentistry can be used to decrease this reflex, so patients don’t need to worry about choking when undergoing these procedures.

Pain relief

Sedation dentistry allows patients to experience pain-free dental care. If you have a serious toothache or oral infection, then sedation can dramatically reduce your discomfort and allow the dentist to provide treatment without any pain on your part. Even routine cleaning and examinations can be more tolerable while you are sedated.

While completely eliminating pain is not possible with any type of dental treatment, many patients who undergo inhaled and intravenous sedation report having much less sensitivity during treatment than they normally would.

The dentist can work faster

If you feel uncomfortable in the dental office or have certain fears or anxieties about dental care, sedation dentistry can help you feel more comfortable during dental procedures. With sedation dentistry, you can be fully relaxed while the dentist works, allowing you to be in and out of your appointment quicker and giving you more time with your hygienist for cleanings and exams. Sedation dentistry can allow your dentist to work more quickly on your teeth since you won’t have to be constantly responding to the numbing shots that are often necessary before a procedure can begin. Instead, the dentist can just get to work right away! With that extra time, you can be in and out of the dentist’s office before you know it.

Contact Everyone's Family Dental to receive the best dental treatments in Schofield, WI, by calling (715) 803-2535 or visiting us at 2809 Schofield Avenue Suite B, Schofield, WI 54476.