Dental sedation employs medication to calm patients and alleviate anxiety during dental treatments. This sedation dentistry Tampa aims to make dental appointments more bearable, particularly for individuals with dental phobia or anxiety. Unlike general anesthesia, sedation dentistry does not induce a complete sleep state, allowing patients to remain conscious and responsive to verbal instructions.
Methods of Sedation Administration
Administered Mild Sedation with Nitrous Oxide.
Most individuals are acquainted with nitrous oxide, which is commonly referred to as “laughing gas.” Nitrous oxide is blended with oxygen. The procedure will be carried out while you remain awake, yet relaxed enough to feel comfortable and less anxious. The effects of the substance typically subside rapidly, and it’s suitable for application on individuals of both juvenile and mature age groups.
Nitrous oxide is commonly used in several of the most frequent dental procedures.
Extractions
Crowns
Dental implants
Root canals
Fillings
Nitrous oxide is inhaled via a face mask.
Mild Dental Anesthesia.
Moderate sedation is slightly more potent than nitrous oxide and is typically given orally in a pill form. During the procedure, you’ll remain awake and conscious, but the moderate dental sedation dentistry Tampa can have a more pronounced effect, leading to a deeper state of relaxation and potentially preventing you from remembering all the details.
Deep Sedation
During deep sedation, administered intravenously (IV), you remain awake but experience a state known as “twilight sleep” or an amnesic state, where you’re on the edge of consciousness and less sensitive to pain. Oral surgery procedures such as wisdom teeth extractions, dental implants, and gum surgery often utilize IV sedation.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is the most intense form of sedation dentistry Tampa. You remain fully unconscious from start to finish under a general anesthetic. The type of sedation needed and your dental treatment dictate that you bring someone with you to the appointment to drive you home afterwards once the sedation’s effects have fully dissipated. Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective method for managing dental anxiety as well as addressing issues like lower pain tolerance and tooth and gum sensitivity.
