Do you get nervous or fidgety when it comes to visiting your dentist? When thinking about undergoing dental treatments, do you tend to feel fearful way before sitting in the examination chair? You aren’t the only one. Even if you do often hesitate to schedule an appointment for dental care, there are ways to overcome your situation so you can maintain a healthy smile. To have a more relaxing experience at the dentist’s office, sedation dentistry may be the ideal solution. However, you might wonder exactly how it feels like to be sedated during treatment. Keep reading to learn what you can expect!
Will I Fall Asleep While Under Sedation?
Patients who typically feel overwhelmed, fearful, or nerve-wracked about dental care usually ask if they can be “knocked out” or “put to sleep” during their procedure. While being asleep might sound like a good idea at the time, there can be various complications that can occur from this. This is also the case with general anesthesia, which is why it’s only reserved for those undergoing major surgery.
Sedation dentistry is mostly used for relaxing a patient gently and safely. Through this method, they’ll be able to experience a reduced amount of discomfort while also feeling as though they’re about to drift off to sleep. This is especially the case if you receive oral conscious sedation or IV sedation, which are the two more powerful forms of this treatment. However, patients will technically remain awake throughout their visit.
What to Expect From Sedation Dentistry
There are typically three kinds of sedation dentistry, and here’s what you can expect from each:
- Nitrous oxide sedation: As the lightest form, nitrous oxide (also known as “laughing gas”) is simply a gas that is inhaled via a nasal mask. Within moments, you might experience tingling in your limbs and you may even feel slightly giddy. You should feel very comfortable while breathing the gas, and once it’s removed, it’ll only take a few moments to return to normal.
- Oral conscious sedation: Your dentist will prescribe you a pill that you will need to take at a certain time before arriving for your scheduled procedure. By the time you’re in the chair, you should start to feel relaxed and slightly sleepy. Though it’ll feel like you’ve drifted off to sleep, you’ll still be able to respond to simple commands and questions. A gentle shake will easily make you alert again.
- IV sedation: As the most powerful option, your team will administer this substance through your bloodstream, allowing the effects to take place quickly and remain in your system for several hours. Patients will typically feel as though they’ve been asleep while undergoing their treatment, so you can expect an entirely relaxed and stress-free visit.
Even if you feel unnerved by the thought of dental care, you can easily overcome this with sedation dentistry! Speak with your dentist about these methods, and they’ll be happy to determine which option is best for you.
About the Practice
Our team at Texas Dentistry and Braces is dedicated to offering trustworthy and efficient dental care for patients of all ages. We utilize state-of-the-art technologies and techniques to deliver high-quality results and comfortable treatments, such as sedation dentistry. If you’d like to know more about these methods or wish to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call our office at 972-563-9444.