Sedation Dentistry

You may remember that going to the dentist years ago meant enduring hours of pain and discomfort. Today, with the improved dental techniques and forward steps in sedation dentistry, going to the dentist can be pain free and quite a comfortable experience. There are many new medicines and types of anesthesia that are available for use in sedation dentistry, all designed with one thing in mind…your comfort.

Sedation dentistry often times incorporates the use of analgesics. Analgesics are used in sedation dentistry to relieve toothaches and pain following dental treatments. Analgesics include aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Narcotic analgesics, like those that contain codeine, control pain through stimulating the central nervous system and are used for more severe cases of pain.

Sedation dentistry also incorporates the use of local anesthesia. Local anesthesia may be applied after a topical anesthesia is applied. Topical anesthesia is applied directly to the surface of the tissue and numbs the area in preparation for the local anesthesia. Once the area is numb from the topical anesthesia the dentist would then inject the local anesthesia in the areas surrounding the tissue that would be affected.

Novocain is a common local anesthesia that is used in sedation dentistry. Novocain is a great pain controller as it actually blocks the nerves that send and transmit the pain signals to the brain. Novocain produces a numbing sensation anywhere it has been injected. In sedation dentistry, Novocain is used when a dentist fills cavities, prepares teeth for crowns or in treating periodontitis.

Nitrous oxide and other sedatives are used in calming anxiety in sedation dentistry as well. Dentists can use nitrous oxide to induce a state of conscious sedation calming the patient’s nerves but still allowing them to respond to touch and speech. Other sedatives used in sedation dentistry may be administered orally in the form of a pill versus the gas inhalation that is usually required with nitrous oxide.

Sedation dentistry may also call for the use of more advanced sedation drugs that induce total unconsciousness for invasive procedures or for people that are prone to anxiety attacks.

It is important for any patient who will be undergoing treatment with the dentist to understand the choices they have with sedation dentistry. You should feel comfortable addressing these options with your dentist and finding out which course with sedation dentistry is best for you.