Sedation Dentist in St. Albert

How to relax at the Dentist? Sedation

It comes as no surprise that some adult patients feel uneasy before seeing their dentist. Perhaps poor dental experiences in the past are to blame. Or even unnerving images of dentists with drills and sharp instruments in T.V shows and movies. The good news is, modern dentistry is nothing like the way it is portrayed both in the past and present. Today’s technology and techniques have made it possible for procedures to be more advanced and gentler than what you would likely imagine.

Many adults experience dental anxiety. This intense fear can prevent patients from scheduling dental checkups and receiving dental work. For these patients, the standard numbing agent used may not be enough. There needs to be more to help them relax during their entire dental procedure. For this reason, your dentist offers sedation dentistry in St. Albert. Continue reading to learn more information on your options, as well as some essential tips.

Sedation Options for Dental Anxiety:

1.    Nitrous Oxide

 Nitrous oxide or more popularly known as “laughing gas” can be an effective way to reduce dental anxiety for both adults and children. So how does laughing gas work? You will breath odourless and tasteless gas in through a mask before and during dental work. This process allows you to relax, and the effects will dissipate within five to ten minutes.

2.    Twilight or IV Sedation

If patients feel incredibly stressed about seeing their dentist, sedation may be a better option. Your sedation dentist in St. Albert offers IV (intravenous) sedation. The advantage of this option is that it can be administered during the surgery. When compared to a full anesthetic, it is milder. Patients usually feel as though they have just napped for ten minutes or so.

How Does Dental Sedation Work?

When you visit your dental clinic for a procedure, it will typically take 20 minutes for your dentist in St. Albert to put in the IV line and administer sedation. To reduce the sedation of the line being inserted, an anesthetic cream can also be used beforehand on your skin.

Your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen will continuously be monitored during your dental procedure by professionals. If you are receiving several different procedures, the sedation may be adjusted. For example, more sedation will be used during tooth extractions, and less will be used for dental fillings. Your dentist’s priority is to ensure you feel comfortable, regardless of the procedure. Typically, they will lower the level of sedation after a filling. This way, you can feel relaxed, and the process runs smoothly.

Sedation dentistry can be used for:

•    Patients with sensitive teeth

•    Patients with a bad gag flex

•    Patients with a low pain threshold

•    Patients who are receiving a large amount of dental work

•    Patients who cannot sit still in their dentist’s chair

Before and After the Procedure

As mentioned early, this article will discuss some vital sedation tips. These tips are as follows:

Discuss your medical history

 You must discuss your medical history with your St. Albert dentist during a preliminary appointment. Your medical history is crucial as specific conditions such as heart problems may mean your dental procedure should be under IV sedation in an “outpatients” hospital setting.

Prepare for recovery

Following your procedure, you will enter a short period of recovery. During this time, you will remain awake and can get up and walk around, stretch, etc. It is suggested that you move around because if you sit down or rest for too long, you can fall asleep quickly once more. Patients should not drive or use heavy equipment after receiving twilight sedation. There should be another person with you at home after your procedure.

Sedation dentistry in St. Albert may be used for invasive procedures or a simple teeth cleaning. It is a highly safe option and can help patients ensure they are taking the right steps towards good oral care.