Why You Choose Oral Sedation Dentistry?

Dental anxiety is a severe problem. According to a report by Colgate, approximately 9-15% of adults in the US have severe dental anxiety. Dental phobia or fear can prevent someone from visiting a dentist in Citrus Heights for a dental cleaning appointment or pulling a tooth out. Still, dental care is essential to ensure excellent oral and overall well-being.

Delaying or avoiding treatment for dental issues such as cavities, gum disease, oral infections, or oral cancer can have severe and life-threatening complications. Fortunately, sedation dentistry gives you an easy way through dental treatments, whether minor or complex. This way, dental appointments can be pleasant, painless, and comfortable.

Depending on the type of procedure you’ll have, your dentist can use IV sedation, oral sedation, and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Nitrous oxide is ideal for minor dental treatment as it helps you stay relaxed. You’ll be awake and aware of your environment. Oral sedation is administered orally through a pill. Lastly, IV sedation is given through a vein and makes you unconscious.

Before administering any sedation, the dentist will review your medical history and other factors to determine the appropriate sedation for you. Let’s have a closer look at oral sedation.

Oral Sedation Can Be Good For Your Smile.

Oral sedation uses oral medication to keep you relaxed and pain-free during dental procedures. Mostly, the medicine is a small blue pill. You don’t have to worry about needles and injections. Oral sedation is safe, painless, and easy to administer. While you’ll be conscious, oral sedation makes you feel drowsy, meaning that you’ll need someone to drive you home after the procedure. You might also need to fast for a few hours before the appointment.

Fortunately, oral sedation has rare and minor side effects, more prevalent among patients with certain medical conditions such as obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes, and more. Your dentist will review your medical history to determine whether oral sedation is right for you.

Importance of Oral Sedation Dentistry

If you’re wondering why you should consider oral sedation, here are five reasons why:

• Reduces dental anxiety

According to research, about 9-20% of US adults skip dental appointments due to dental fear and anxiety. Whatever your reason for feeling uncomfortable about dental procedures is, you can benefit from oral sedation. Oral sedation makes you feel calm and relaxed during all your dental procedures.

• Pain-free and comfortable treatments

Dental procedures such as tooth extraction, fillings, veneers, and bridges can be painful. If you have a low tolerance for pain, your dentist can give you oral sedation to stay pain-free and comfortable during dental treatments. Oral sedation only makes you tired and relaxed, but you’ll still be awake and responsive.

• It helps you overcome sensitivity.

If you experience teeth and gum sensitivity when you imagine or get close to dental instruments, getting dental treatment can be difficult. Oral sedation can help you overcome these sensitivities and undergo dental treatments with ease. Patients also claim that the level of post-treatment soreness and sensitivity is significantly reduced by sedation.

• Easy to administer

Unlike IV sedation, administered through injections, oral sedation is a pill. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are the most accessible types of sedation as they don’t involve needles. You can look forward to your dental appointment without worrying about being pricked by your dentist.

• Safe

Oral sedation is approved and regulated by the FDA. It’s safe for adults and children alike when administered correctly. You’re highly unlikely to experience any severe side effects. It’s essential to have someone drive you after the appointment, as you might still feel drowsy or lightheaded. If you experience any side effects, visit a dentist near you or contact our dentist in Citrus Heights as soon as possible.

Schedule An Appointment Today

Oral sedation is a great way to go through dental treatments if you have dental anxiety and fear. It keeps you calm, relaxed, and pain-free during dental appointments. Even better, it’s entirely safe, and you’ll be monitored throughout the procedure to ensure nothing goes wrong. For more information on oral sedation in Citrus Heights, contact New Vision Dentistry.