Around 60% of people worldwide suffer from dental fear.
Even among those that don’t, many still don’t enjoy the idea. If you don’t like going to the dentist, you should consider sedation dentistry. The sedation can make the whole experience easier, helping to eliminate any fears or frustrations you might have.
For a rundown of 4 of the key benefits of sedation dentistry, keep reading.
1. Reduced Anxiety
It’s common for people to have a fear of the dentist – dental phobia and dental anxiety are genuine medical concerns. Regardless of the fears people have, it’s still important to visit your dentist regularly.
If you’re reluctant to do so, visiting a sedation dentist may be ideal for you. In many cases, it’s not seeing the dentist that’s the actual issue, but instead, any procedures that may be needed that people fear. Sedation can help reduce (and sometimes fully eliminate) this fear.
Dental sedation can help relax you before, during, and after your visit. Various dental issues can become worse if not treated early on, so you don’t want to put things off. Being sedated will make it much easier to go through dental procedures calmly and comfortably.
2. Less Discomfort
While dental sedation is great for people with dental fear, it can also benefit those who have no issues with the dentist. Even with the best dentist, long dental procedures can still be somewhat uncomfortable. You may want to ask your dentist about sedation before undergoing your procedure.
Different things can make dental treatments unpleasant for people, such as a sensitive gag reflex or sensitive teeth. Dental sedation will help you relax so that these are less of a factor.
Dental sedation might also be a good idea if you have a low pain threshold. While dentists will try their best to avoid causing any pain, it’s still possible with some treatments. Sedation can help encourage a painless dental procedure, making the experience better overall.
3. Safety
Some people express a safety concern when talking about dental sedation. Most dentists are fully trained to administer laughing gas, and it’s a safe procedure with minimal side effects.
For larger procedures, oral and IV sedation may be appropriate, but oral health care professionals need advanced training to administer these.
Whichever type of sedation you go with, you can relax knowing that you’re in safe hands. Just bear in mind that you’ll need to inform your dentist if you have anything like diabetes or any respiratory/cardiac diseases. You’ll also need to let them know if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to anesthesia.
4. Quick Recovery
Whichever sedation method you go with, it won’t take long for it to wear off. With laughing gas, the effects will fade away within about 2 minutes after you stop breathing it. Oral and IV sedation will last for longer, but should be fully worn off by the next day.
Iron City Dentistry is based in Birmingham, AL. We offer basic, cosmetic, and advanced dentistry, with the goal of providing exceptional care to everyone.