Sleep dentistry is a great way to remain calm and comfortable during a dental procedure. It is especially useful for patients who have dental anxiety and patients who are scheduled for a more invasive procedure such as tooth extraction, root canal therapy or dental implant placement.
It is helpful to understand the common types of sleep dentistry and the pros and cons of each to determine if it is right for you and when and why a general dentist may recommend a certain option. The three main types of sleep dentistry (also called dental sedation) are nitrous oxide, oral sedation and IV sedation.
Nitrous oxide, also called “laughing gas,” is a mild form of sedation. One great benefit of nitrous oxide is that the patient is fully in control. They wear a mask over their mouth and nose, which releases nitrogen and oxygen. The effects are that the patient typically feels more comfortable and relaxed during the procedure, and they may experience less pain as well. If the patient begins to feel uncomfortable with the nitrous oxide, they can simply remove the mask without having to ask the dental professional.
Oral sedation, also called conscious sedation, is a type of sleep dentistry that involves taking a sedative orally. The patient is awake and conscious when they take oral sedation, but they may feel less focused and groggy. Many patients also have a harder time remembering the procedure after the sedation wears off, although they are aware during the procedure and able to communicate with the dentist. The benefits of oral sedation include pain management, the ability to minimize anxiety and being awake during the treatment procedure.
For dental purposes, the primary method of IV sedation is known as “twilight.” With IV sedation, the patient is awake, although they may feel sleepy and not fully aware. This is often a good choice for patients who have dental phobia and are concerned with pain or have other fears during treatment. General anesthesia is the other type of IV sedation. Outside of several oral surgery procedures, general anesthesia is rare and almost never performed in the dental office. However, patients should feel free to ask about either twilight or general anesthesia to see which options are available.
The best option for sleep dentistry depends on the preference of the patient and the invasiveness of the dental procedure. Any allergies or health conditions that the patient has may also factor into which option is best. The best way to determine which sleep dentistry option is right for you is to discuss all options with a dental professional.
The best type of sleep dentistry option depends on the specific procedure and the preference of the patient. Our dental team takes great pride in ensuring that all of our patients are as pain-free as possible during treatment, and we offer nitrous oxide, oral sedation and IV sedation.
Request an appointment here: https://totaldentalcare.com or call Total Dental Care of Middle Island at (631) 924-8155 for an appointment in our Middle Island office.
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