Dispelling 5 Dental Sedation Myths for Better Patient Awareness

Dental Sedation is a pervasive and persistent fear phenomenon that leads many people to avoid visiting a dentist. Statistics show that 4%-50% of adults suffer from dental anxiety. This avoidance of dental care can be detrimental to public and personal health.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be afraid of a dentist’s appointment — sedation dentistry can take all the anxiety away and ensure your comfort. Regardless of the nature of the dental procedure you wish to undergo, your doctor can help you choose a suitable type of sedation for your dental work.

Some of the common techniques used in dental procedures include oral conscious sedation, nitrous oxide, and general anaesthesia. Unsurprisingly, sedation dentistry has become common for patients with severe dental anxiety and strong gag reflexes. However, despite its many proven benefits, some common myths surrounding this practice continue to contribute to dental care avoidance. Let’s debunk some of them.

1. Sedation Dentistry Is Only for Invasive Treatments

Unlike most other types of anaesthesia, sedation dentistry is flexible and adaptable but not exclusive to major procedures. So, you’ll find dentists who apply it even on routine dental cleaning. This flexibility ensures that sedation dentistry serves varying dental care needs. It is accessible to:

• Patients who can’t tolerate pain.
• People who are anxious when in the dentist’s chair.
• Anyone with sensitive teeth.
• People with bad gag reflexes.
• Patients requiring a lengthy dental procedure.

Similarly, sedation dentistry is not exclusive to adults only, some instances require little children to be given sedation. In these cases, physicians administer nitrous oxide as it is considered safe.

Sedation dentistry has a range of benefits for children beyond invasive treatments, depending on each patient’s needs:

• Reducing anxiety;
• minimising pain;
• controlling gag reflex;
• allowing comprehensive treatment to be provided with fewer dental visits.

2. Sedation Dentistry Is Addictive

Medication used in sedation dentistry lacks any addictive properties, especially when the right dosage is used. The medication contains benzodiazepines and nitrous oxide, which are carefully regulated and prescribed for specific purposes.

Dentists use a dosage based on each patient’s health status. They also follow safety protocols and guidelines established by regulatory bodies aimed at making sedation dentistry a safe and non-addictive option for patients who deal with anxiety during dental procedures. Close monitoring is also given priority to ensure that any red flags are quickly addressed and remedied before they turn into health complications.

That’s why dentists are strongly recommended to take Safe Sedation Training for dental specialties to provide the maximum level of care and be aware of the best practices.

3. Sedation Dentistry Requires Special Preparation

Sedation dentistry can be seamlessly integrated into your routine dental visits, and only minimal preparation is needed. Like any other sedation process, the pre-procedural process is simple, involving a brief consultation about your medical history, allergies, and any medications you may be on. This is a standard approach to determine the most suitable medication for you.

4. Sedation Dentistry Puts Patients to Sleep

You may have heard that sedation dentistry leaves you unconscious and in the complete sleep. Well, this is not entirely true. It will depend on the kind of dental procedure being carried out and the medication you are given. For a simple procedure, the dentist is likely to use minimal and moderate sedation. In this case, you’ll remain conscious throughout the procedure but will be deeply relaxed. These methods use mild medication or oral sedatives, such as Valium and Halcion, for a deep calming effect.

These methods ensure patient comfort and cooperation without causing unconsciousness.

5. Sedation Dentistry Is Expensive

One of the leading factors for dental care avoidance is the cost implications. However, the benefits of sedation dentistry outweigh the costs. further, there are a variety of options provided to suit everyone’s budget. Minimal sedation, for example, is generally affordable. There might be slight cost increments when looking at moderate sedation using oral sedatives. These two options will cover a good majority of dental care requirements that many people may need.

In very rare cases, intravenous (IV) sedation and general anaesthesia may be required. These two options may be slightly costlier compared to the previously mentioned methods. Fortunately, instances of their use are rare, hence, there is no reason to deter you from making an appointment with your dentist.

Overall, the perceived high cost of sedation dentistry may be outweighed by the benefits of reduced anxiety and improved comfort during dental procedures.

Check out our latest blog on How to Become a Dentist. This A Complete Guide will help you take a step towards becoming a successful dentist.

Conclusion

Dental anxiety is a pertinent issue that contributes significantly to the avoidance of dental appointments. While affecting many people, dental anxiety should be a thing of the past, thanks to sedation dentistry. This technique can help restore a patient’s calmness during dental procedures.

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