Houston Sedation Dentistry Methods and Safety

Sedation dentistry is an exceptional method for keeping patients calm and accomplishing a lot of dental work in a shorter amount of time.

The primary use for sedation dentistry is to relax the patient. The most common forms include laughing gas, IV sedation, and local anesthetics.

Sedation Dentistry Methods

Local anesthetics are topical and injected medicines that reduce sensation in a small area. They are used to reduce or eliminate discomfort and pain at an operation site, such as in the gums when extracting a tooth.

When using local anesthetics, the patient is still fully awake and aware of what happens. They may also be able to feel the procedure taking place, albeit in a much lower capacity than normal.

Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas, is an inhaled sedative that relaxes and calms patients, including adults and children.

Nitrous oxide is an excellent method for calming children at the dentist when they are fearful of a procedure.

The gas makes it seem like time passes much more quickly, and the typical sensory information is decreased even more than with a local anesthetic alone.

The patient remains awake, but their demeanor is often described as “loopy,” meaning they are conscious but a little less coherent or much more gleeful, even about random things.

IV sedation is a much stronger form of sedation dentistry that brings patients right to the edge of sleep, either barely awake or barely asleep.

This form of sedation reduces total awareness of the patient, as well as virtually immobilizing them. It never takes more than a gentle shrug to wake a patient under IV sedation, but the greatly decreased motor function makes it much easier for the dentist to work.

This method is particularly useful with invasive surgeries that can take a long period of time. The patient remains nearly unconscious while the dentist works, allowing the dentist to accomplish a lot of work all at once since the patient is calm, relaxed, and sedated.

Safety Concerns with Sedation Dentistry

Many people are concerned with the use of sedation dentistry, especially when it comes to children.

Sedation dentistry in Houston is perfectly safe and the levels of sedation are continually monitored and adjusted to ensure perfect balance.

An anesthesiologist must pass rigorous training and exams to become certified, and the certifications are even more difficult to work with children.

A kids’ dentist that offers sedation dentistry will be miles ahead of dentists who do not offer it, as children can be more difficult to work with than an adult.

Children may fuss or generally be nervous about going to the dentist, but by using completely safe sedation dentistry, they’ll feel relaxed and will be done with their procedure before they realize it.

The main side effects of sedation dentistry are limited to fatigue, which wears off within hours of completing a procedure.

Since the use of sedation is heavily monitored and adjusted, there is no need to worry about any other ramifications beyond a little tiredness.

For adults undergoing sedation dentistry, it is highly advised they have someone drive them home afterward. In some cases where very little sedation is used, such as only a local anesthetic, the patient will be fully capable of driving home after a procedure.