Imagine suffering from a piercing toothache, but choosing to live in pain because you’re afraid of the dentist. This is a reality for many people who put off going to the dentist due to a phobia. The fear of the dentist is very common; however, this phobia can be overcome by visiting a Sedation Dentist in Tulsa OK.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Those who have a dental phobia often worry about the unknown. They may be afraid a procedure will hurt, or they may worry about seeing too much blood. Sedation dentistry is used in situations like this to help calm and relax fearful patients.
A Sedation Dentist in Tulsa OK will administer a calming sedative to the patient. The goal is to help reduce anxiety. Different sedatives may be used, depending on the complexity of the procedure or the amount of fear the patient experiences.
Types of Sedation
The most well-known sedative administered in dental clinics is laughing gas. As one may assume, laughing gas often causes patients to giggle during their appointment. Other patients may become drowsy or fall asleep. Laughing gas is inhaled, and the effects wear off quickly.
If a patient is coming in for an long or extensive procedure, their dentist may prescribe an oral sedative. This pill is taken about an hour before a patient’s appointment. In most instances, the patient will have little to no recollection of the procedure.
Dental implants and wisdom tooth extraction are both lengthy treatments that involve oral surgery. In many cases, the patient will be sedated with intravenous medications. Once the IV sedative is administered, the patient will fall asleep for the duration of their appointment.
Who Can Benefit?
Anyone who is anxious about going to the dentist should ask about sedation. Most dental clinics offer at least one form of sedation to their patients. Kids’ Dental clinics, for example, often utilize laughing gas to keep their young patients calm during annual checkups.
If you’ve been putting off dental work because of fear, then it’s time to look into sedation dentistry. The use of sedatives makes it possible to treat fearful patients, while they remain relaxed. Sedation dentistry has helped many patients overcome their fears.
