It is common to feel a little anxious when going to the dentist. However, some people experience very severe anxiety symptoms even though the procedure they are undergoing is not that complex. This fear can sometimes be paralyzing and is often the reason why people avoid seeing their dentist altogether. Thankfully, there are ways to handle this anxiety, and if this is your case you should look into oral sedation dentistry near you. In this article, you will learn all about this technique and how it is performed.
When anxiety goes over the limit
Normally, people feel a little nervous before undergoing a dental procedure but this doesn’t stop them from going to the dental clinic and acquiring the treatment they require. This is not the case for other people, particularly in those who suffer from odontophobia. These people experience an uncontrollable fear of visiting the dentist. This fear can have many reasons that range from seeing the dentist to the fear of pain and needles. It is almost impossible for people with odontophobia to have some self-control and undergo any type of treatment at a dental clinic in St. Albert. In these patients, oral sedation is the best option.
The role of anesthesia
One of the main reasons why people avoid going to a dentist in St. Albert is because they believe that dental procedures are painful. The truth is that dentists have several options for anesthesia that ensure that their patients don’t experience any pain during their treatment. The most common type is local anesthesia, which is injected directly on the area that is supposed to be treated to numb it. After this, you won’t feel any pain but you may feel some pressure. On the other hand, general anesthesia is administered intravenously and it makes the patient unconscious, so they have no recollection of the procedure.
What can oral sedation achieve?
For patients with odontophobia, knowing that they won’t experience pain due to local anesthesia is not enough to calm their fears. In fact, the idea of an injection may induce more anxiety. If this is your case, sedation dentistry near you will allow you to feel more relaxed during your procedure. There are several drugs that dentists can use to reduce a patient’s anxiety. A great advantage that these drugs have is that they can be administered orally, without the need for needles. Furthermore, some of these drugs have amnesic properties, which means that you won’t remember the procedure. Finally, all of these drugs have been widely tested in many countries and are completely safe to use when prescribed by a professional.
What to do before your procedure
Before your dental procedure, you will have a comprehensive interview with your dentist where they will ask about your medical history, allergies, medications, or supplements you are currently taking, amongst other topics. It is important that you answer all of these questions truthfully since your answers may determine whether a specific drug is adequate for you or not. After this, your dentist will provide a prescription for a drug that you will be advised to take approximately one hour before your dental procedure. The reason for this is that oral sedation takes a little longer to work than intravenous sedation or nitrous oxide. Since you will be taking the drug before arriving to the dental clinic, you won’t be able to drive so you should ask a family member or a friend to drive you to your appointment and then pick you up. These drugs don’t make you unconscious but they can make you feel drowsy and affect your reflexes. Therefore, you won’t be able to drive after taking them.
