You do not have to feel alone if you are one of the millions of people who feel some anxiety or fear when visiting the dentist. In reality, many people feel some form of dental anxiety. Sedation dentistry offers a way to help patients be at ease, manage fear, anxiety and discomfort during an appointment. Addressing a patient’s fears is part of treating dental needs. A patient should not be riddled with fear every time they need to go to the dentist. This is why you can choose to have sedation dentistry in Waterloo.
Sedation Dentistry Options
In most cases, a patient has the option between numerous sedation methods. Some of the available options will depend on the type of procedure being performed. There are three ways for sedation to be administered orally, intravenously or inhaling.
Inhalation Sedation
Inhalation sedation is often called laughing gas. It won’t render the patient unconscious, but it will help them relax enough to be stress and fear free. The patient will wear a mask and become mildly sedated as they breathe in the nitrous oxide.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation can range between minimal to moderate sedation depending on the dosage administered. A pill can yield minimal sedation. It will cause drowsiness but the patient will still be awake. Larger doses can make a person fall asleep during the procedure, but they are easily awakened.
Intravenous Sedation
An IV administers a drug through the vein so it will work much more quickly. This method makes it easy for the dental professional to adjust the level of sedation if needed. In many cases, there is no memory of the procedure or anything that happened in the dentist’s office.
Discuss the possible sedation methods with your dentist. He can help you choose an appropriate level of sedation for you.
