Oral Sedation Dentistry
Patients who suffer from anxiety over dental appointments have a number of options available to them to ease their fears during treatment. Oral sedation dentistry dixon illinois is a great tool for both patients and dentists during dental procedures. Oral sedation is a simple form of anti-anxiety medication administered in pill form that may include a benzodiazepine such as Valium, Xanax, or Lorazepam. Oral sedation is administered 30 minutes to one hour prior to a dental appointment.
Anxiety over dental appointments is very common and can even cause patients to avoid routine dental cleanings. Dental health is too important to skip if you suffer from dental anxiety so speak with your dentist about receiving oral sedation before an appointment. Dental health is directly related to overall health and not receiving routine cleanings can lead to periodontal disease in patients which can cause a number of more severe problems when left untreated.
Here is a review of the advantages and disadvantages of receiving oral sedation prior to dental treatment.
Advantages
Oral sedation is painless and easy to administer. It typically comes in pill form and your dentist may keep prescriptions on hand in the office or can prescribe a dose for you to have filled at your pharmacy before your dental appointment. Taking up to an hour before your appointment, oral sedation can greatly relieve tension and anxiety so that patients are able to comfortably receive dental treatment.
Oral sedation keeps the patient awake during treatment so that they are able to communicate with their dentist and respond to instructions when necessary. oral sedation is also incredibly safe since it is monitored by the FDA. Since they are administered in pill form, oral sedation does not require any needles which for some, I can add to anxiety.
Patients with dental anxiety may enjoy the light amnesia that comes along with oral sedatives. This keeps patients from being stressed during their appointment and allows them to simply have a nice little nap afterward!
Disadvantages
Some sedation options allow patients to leave their dental appointment on their own but oral sedation may require the patient to have someone accompany them home after their procedure. It can be unsafe for a patient to try to drive or navigate public transportation on their own while their oral sedation wears off so it is best for a friend or family member to pick the patient up and get them home.
The only other real disadvantage to oral sedation is that the dosage is not easily adjusted as it is with nitrous oxide or IV/IM sedation. Oral sedation is taken about an hour before the appointment to allow the medication to kick in so if you need more, the appointment may be interrupted to allow for a second dose to kick in.
If you suffer from any type of dental anxiety, it is very important to speak with your dentist about sedation options. Dental anxiety is such a common affliction that you should not feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about requesting a little help! If a little sedative will help you endure necessary dental treatment, it is worth the discussion.