Oral and dental health should not be neglected, but for most people, a dental procedure is an experience that is meant to be forgotten, at best. Even teeth cleaning and polishing, or oral prophylaxis, can sometimes be excruciating for people with sensitive teeth. That is why the fact that they have to undergo more extensive dental procedures scares them. Other people simply have a phobia with dentists, whereas others have had a traumatic experience with their dentists in the past. Some also have low pain threshold and active gag reflex, making even the simplest dental procedures time consuming.
If you feel you are a candidate for sedation dentistry, you should know its benefits so you can justify any additional costs. Although most dentists can perform mild to moderate sedation, only selected accredited dentists can induce deep sedation. In addition, different states have different regulations when it comes to the use of sedatives. Here are some of the benefits of sedation dentistry that you must know:
1. Relaxation and Comfort
Undoubtedly, the main benefit of sedation dentistry is the reduction or elimination of fear and anxiety during dental procedures. Patients are calm and at times, unconscious (during deep sedation). In addition to the anesthetics used, the sedatives work further to reduce the pain in dental procedures. With the patient calm, the dentist can freely work to fix the patient's dental concerns. There will be no episodes of panicking, or patients suddenly asking their dentist to stop midway the procedure.
2. Longer Procedures
Dentists can work more carefully when their patients are under the influence of sedatives. This can result to fewer dental appointments, allowing you to actually save money in the long run despite having to pay more for sedation dentistry procedures. Patients can also keep their mouths open for extended periods, allowing the dentist to work uninterrupted.
3. More Time to Do What You Want
You no longer need to file for absence at work or school just because you have an appointment with your dentist. With sedation dentistry, you will simply need a few appointments, depending on the severity of your dental concern.
4. Reduced Awareness of the Dental Procedure
Patients will have little to no memory of the dental procedure. They may recall the procedure but not the pain they feel. In addition, a procedure that lasted a few hours may seem like merely a few minutes to the patient. This is helpful for patients who need to undergo an extensive dental surgery such as multiple teeth extraction, or some other oral surgery.
If you desire to undergo sedation dentistry in Sterling, VA, talk to your dentist. Make sure to open up your medical history and health records that indicate allergies and health problems like anemia. There are a lot of convenient sedatives for every patient.