{"id":19429,"date":"2021-11-18T12:32:13","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T17:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19429"},"modified":"2023-03-06T11:46:06","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T16:46:06","slug":"sedation-dentistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/sedation-dentistry\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Might Be Sedated At The Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dental care is an important <\/span>part of overall health<\/span><\/a>, but if you get <\/span>anxious at the dentist<\/span><\/a> or you\u2019re worried about the pain, it can be tough to stay on top of your routine visits. Sedation dentistry, in which a dentist or anesthesiologist gives you a sedative drug prior to or during a dental visit, is one way to make uncomfortable dental procedures easier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dentists often use sedation for patients. There\u2019s not just one type of sedative. Your dentist may prescribe a pill to help you calm down before a visit, or you may go to sleep for the entire procedure and not remember any of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of the method, it\u2019s important to understand how sedation works and what to expect before your appointment. Here\u2019s what you need to know about getting sedated at the dentist, according to experts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why dentists use sedation\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

In dentistry, as in many other fields of medicine, sedation helps make patients more comfortable during procedures so care providers can do their work safely and effectively, says <\/span>Bryant Cornelius<\/span><\/a>, program director of dental and maxillofacial anesthesiology at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety about dental work<\/a> is one of the most common reasons people opt to be sedated, Cornelius says. <\/span>Kids<\/span><\/a> or people with special needs who may struggle to stay still for a procedure can also benefit from sedation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pete Hehli<\/span><\/a>, a sedation dentist in Appleton, Wis., says patients with a strong gag reflex or people who don\u2019t get fully numb from local anesthesia may also be good candidates for sedation. Being sedated can also help when patients are undergoing complex dental work in one visit, like teeth extraction, dental implants or multiple fillings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But even during long or complex visits, sedation isn\u2019t always required. It\u2019s a case-by-case situation: <\/span>Some people may need to go to sleep to stay still for X-rays and a cleaning, while others can tolerate root canals or even wisdom teeth extraction under local anesthesia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to treat patients individually depending on what they want or need,\u201d Cornelius says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not all dentists can offer sedation; typically, they need a specific license for it. Each state has its own dental sedation laws and regulations, according to the <\/span>American Dental Association<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most general dentists in the U.S. have a license to practice minimal or moderate sedation, Cornelius says. But some states require additional education or licensure to perform any type of sedation. Dentists also sometimes work with nurse anesthetists or anesthesiologists who administer sedatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Types of dental sedation<\/span><\/h3>\n

Your dentist will choose the best sedative for you based on your needs and your medical history. There are several types of sedation drugs used in a dental setting, including nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas) and ketamine. Benzodiazepines and opioids are also used.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The methods for administering anesthesia vary. You may breathe in a gas or take a pill before a procedure, or your dentist could give you a shot, or you could receive anesthesia through an IV. <\/span>Any of these techniques can be used during any procedure, but the dose and each individual\u2019s response may vary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone responds to different drugs in different ways,\u201d Cornelius says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Each type of sedation has a different effect that fall into one of the four levels of sedation:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n