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| How dental sedation affects your health |
How Dental Sedation Affects Your Well-Being
When it comes to your teeth, mouth hygiene, as well as aesthetic appearance, can play a vital role in your health and confidence. Many people wish that their teeth were whiter, straighter, or less sensitive.
However, such aspects of the teeth, such as staining and sensitivity, can provide several clues about your body's overall well-being. Several diseases manifest themselves in the oral cavity. Hence, you must schedule regular visits with your dental professional.
Unfortunately, many adults and children alike find it difficult to regularly visit the dentist because they are nervous about the procedure.
However, such aspects of the teeth, such as staining and sensitivity, can provide several clues about your body's overall well-being. Several diseases manifest themselves in the oral cavity. Hence, you must schedule regular visits with your dental professional.
Unfortunately, many adults and children alike find it difficult to regularly visit the dentist because they are nervous about the procedure.
To combat this, some dentists may recommend dental sedation for calming the nerves of the patient. Thus, this article will highlight how this affects your health.
How is sedation done?
4 Ways Dental Sedation Can Be Done:
1-Nitrous Oxide Sedation
It is referred to as laughing gas. It is commonly used for the sedation of patients. The gas is administered through the nasal or oral cavity and often leaves the patient feeling happy or laughing. It is a sedative method that does not contain side effects, apart from making the patient get the giggles.
2. Oral Sedation
Popularly referred to as Oral Conscious Sedation, this method takes place by administering oral medication to the patient before the procedure begins. Usually, this takes place in the form of a pill.
Patients are advised to take medicine the night before or a few hours before the procedure. It is an excellent method to opt for when patients are extremely anxious about the treatment.
Still, it is vital to keep patients calm for the procedure. It dramatically helps minimize the possibility of injuries occurring. Unfortunately, this method also produces specific side effects on patients, which can affect their daily lives.
Patients are advised to take medicine the night before or a few hours before the procedure. It is an excellent method to opt for when patients are extremely anxious about the treatment.
Still, it is vital to keep patients calm for the procedure. It dramatically helps minimize the possibility of injuries occurring. Unfortunately, this method also produces specific side effects on patients, which can affect their daily lives.
3. Intravenous (IV) Sedation
As the name suggests, IV Sedation or twilight sedation occurs by inserting medication through the veins of a patient.
The method is also useful when performing more intense surgery or treatment to minimize the patient's discomfort procedure. In cases where patients are extremely fearful, this is the recommended method.
The method is also useful when performing more intense surgery or treatment to minimize the patient's discomfort procedure. In cases where patients are extremely fearful, this is the recommended method.
4. General Anesthesia
Also known as Sleep Dentistry, patients are given general anesthesia so that they fall completely asleep. This method also involves administering medicine intravenously.
If the procedure is invasive or the patient is particularly anxious, this is the method dentists prefer. However, here again, great care must be taken while administering medicine.
What are some of the risks?
The correct administration of medicine is vital to the success of the procedure. However, even when the process goes smoothly, patients may still complain of side effects.🗷 These side effects usually consist of nausea, headaches, fainting, grogginess, vomiting, fatigue, dry mouth, etc. Patients may also feel groggy or get fits of giggles, as with procedures like nitrous oxide sedation.
- 🗷 For almost all the procedures, patients also complain about the fact that they cannot perform regular functions, such as driving. Thus, any time such procedures are done, the patient should have close family or friends with him or her.
🗷 For more intravenous methods, the injection site may swell or get bruised. These methods may also cause excessive discomfort with the side effects mentioned above. It could also last longer than usual.
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Why is it still prescribed?
With all these risks, why is dental sedation ever prescribed by dentists? This is because, in some cases, there is absolutely no other way that the procedure can take place:
- For many patients, a bad dental experience in the past can significantly affect the way in which they respond to treatment. Such patients are generally more anxious and nervous about procedures. They may fidget and hence cause injury to themselves or to the dentist.
- Children often have sedation dentistry prescribed as their behavior can be unpredictable in the chair. However, you should check out some of the risks associated with sedation dentistry for children before proceeding.
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| The dentist often uses sedation for children's dental work |
- Smallmouths, sensitive teeth, nerves, etc. are also reasons why the dentist prescribes dental sedation. These can get particularly sore during treatments and hence require extra attention.
- Finally, being non-responsive to local anesthesia is another reason why dentists prescribe dental sedation.
How do you minimize the risks?
While some of these side effects are impossible to counter, there are some ways you can ensure your health and safety are maintained. Firstly, ensure that your dentist possesses the necessary qualifications and certifications for the procedure. Many dentists practice dental continuing education, which means that they are always up to date with the latest scientific trends and technologies. Not only does this show that they are professional, but it also shows that they are passionate about the work that they conduct.
Ensure that you communicate your fears and nervousness to the dentist beforehand. They understand the situation best, and hence you can ensure that they will prescribe sedation only when required. Still, if you feel that it is best for you to skip sedation for certain procedures, you could try some relaxation techniques.
Conclusion
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| Dental sedation |
There are many reasons why you should be apprehensive about getting sedation. However, at the same time, your dentist will ensure that you are taken care of and get the best treatment possible. Hence, we hope that this article helps you understand the ways that sedation affects your health and what steps you can take to help minimize the risks.
Author: Jessica Smith has been writing articles for e-business and e-lance sites for more than 4 years. Her educational background is Masters in English and journalism which gives her a broad platform to write on a variety of topics with ease and efficiency. She is an independent writer who especially enjoys writing on fashion and lifestyle.
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