Dentistry has improved a lot in the past few decades. Many dental materials and techniques have been introduced in the market so that patients getting treated can get better treatment and results. Sedation dentistry is also a part of the evolution in the field of dentistry. Being living things, we human beings tend to face anxiety whenever we have to visit a dentist.

Here’s where sedation dentistry comes into play. It helps to relax and calm the patient before any procedure – from cleanings to wisdom teeth extraction. It also ensures that the dentist can treat the patient safely and quickly because the patient is unaware that there’s a dental procedure going on.

Basics of Sedation Dentistry

Like every other part of dentistry, sedation dentistry also has it’s pros and cons. It’s necessary for every patient to understand these so they can make an informed decision before undergoing any sort of treatment. Since it began, sedation dentistry has given a lot of benefits to both patients as well as the dentists, which is no doubt reason for it’s rising popularity.

Pros of Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry has benefited many people and has also made the work of the dentists much easier and stress-free since it’s inception a few years ago. The most important aspect is that the patient can relax before any dental procedure and be free from anxiety. This allows the dentist the freedom to be able to move the patient’s head according to their requirements for the procedure, increasing their comfort level for the treatment.

A patient who has been given sedatives can be treated easily as there are no conscious interruptions or physical effects which can hinder a dental procedure. As we all know or have experienced, interruptions like a gag reflex are quite common during dental treatments. Because of the ease and pliability many dentists are now seeking, learning and using various forms of sedatives for their patients.

Generally people tend to have bad and frightful experiences in the dentist chair and are therefore fearful of the next checkup. Sedation dentistry helps people to forget the toughest phase of the treatment done, and it also helps to save time.

Cons of Sedation Dentistry

Most things have negatives and sedation dentistry isn’t any different. It’s important to know the cons of any medical or dental procedure so that you can make an informed decision before taking any sedatives.

Many patients can have overt side effects after the sedatives have been administered or even after the treatments. There are times when the patient isn’t able to tolerate the sedatives and develops certain reactions to the drugs. To avoid this, dentists check the tolerance level of the patient for the particular sedatives and only then they are administered to the patients.

There is also the risk that there may be contradictions of other medicines prescribed to the patient with the sedatives, so you must tell your dentist about any medications that you may be taking.

Dental treatments and financial abilities are strongly bound to each other. Sedation during dental treatments is not included in the dental plans for most insurance companies. So patients must think practically before opting for sedation treatments.

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Becca is an avid dental health blogger. She’s currently working with Dentists R Us in Burnaby, BC to help educate the public about dental care and health.