Sedation Dentistry uses medications and techniques to control dental pain while the dental procedure is carried out. This can help to get rid of the pain and control anxiety during the surgical procedure or dental wellness visit.

Is sedation right for you?

You can be sedated if you have any of the following issues:

Anxiety or phobic about dental treatment
General dental needs but, with a limited amount of time
A very sensitive gag reflex
Difficulty in getting numb
Needle phobia
Sensitive teeth
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Dementia

What are the different types of sedation techniques used by dentists?

Nitrous Oxide (A.K.A. laughing gas):

Inhaling nitrous oxide is one of the most widely used sedation techniques by dentists. It is also called laughing gas. It is being inhaled through a comfortable mask that is placed over the nose, which then produces a light level of relaxation and sedation.

Benefits of nitrous oxide sedation

It is cheap
No side effects at all
It acts as a quick recovery as you can start doing your normal activities right away
It is highly effective for mild to moderate dental anxiety
It is ideal for a short, routine dental wellness visit

IV Sedation:

Patients with moderate to high levels of dental anxiety are managed with the help of IV sedation or Intravenous sedation. It is the mixture of sedative drugs and painkilling drugs that are administered intravenously into your bloodstream. Your breathing, bp, and heart rate will be monitored by the dentists throughout the procedure to keep you healthy and safe.

Benefits of IV sedation

It affects in no time
Its level and length of sedation can be easily controlled
It takes 24 hours to recover with limited side effects
It provides deep relaxation, pain relief, and partial amnesia
This is recommended mostly, for lengthy and invasive dental procedure

General Anesthesia:

In this type of sedation, the person is put to sleep during the whole procedure. This type of anesthesia is quite risky as there might be a sudden drop in the patient’s blood pressure and irregular heartbeats, so it is necessary to monitor closely. That is why this is given only when extensive dental work is needed.

What are the other mind/body techniques used by dentists?

The other mind/body techniques used are distraction strategies, relaxation techniques, guided imagery, deep breathing, progressive relaxation, hypnosis, support groups, or mental health therapy.

Call us at (386) 445-6111 or schedule an online appointment with Dr. Jacob for a consultation at our office in Palm Coast, FL.