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Whether you suffer from dental anxiety or are about to undergo a lengthy procedure at a dental office, your sedation dentist in Porterville, CA, plays a crucial role in helping you stay calm and relaxed throughout the ordeal. Let’s be honest: staying perfectly still for a long time while someone works on your mouth is no one’s definition of a fun afternoon.

Dental sedation helps you relax, allowing us to perform tasks and shortening treatment times. But have you ever wondered what type of sedation we encourage for what types of treatments? In this guide, we’ll uncover that secret.

Types of Sedation Used in Dentistry

Dental offices offer different types of sedation depending on the treatment at hand or the patient's level of anxiety about dental care. Other factors influencing this decision include the patient's needs, the time required for the dental procedure, and medical history.  

These are the most frequent types of sedation:

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a well-known, noninvasive type of dental sedation. It’s inhaled through a mask, and the calming effects are registered in the following five minutes. Its effects are allowing patients to feel relaxed and at ease.

This sedation option is used for treatments such as:

• ‍Routine Cleanings: While dental cleanings are painless, nitrous oxide may be provided to keep the patient calm.
• ‍Fillings: When cavities are not deep, nitrous oxide helps patients stay relaxed during their removal and restoration with fillings.
• ‍Pediatric Dentistry: For children who are afraid of going to the dentist, laughing gas can be their biggest ally.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is administered through a pill taken one hour before the dental procedure. It makes you feel sleepy even when you're awake. If a higher dose is administered, it is considered moderate sedation.  

Given the potential for adverse effects on motor skills, it is advised that the patient be accompanied if this sedation option is selected for the dental procedure.  

This sedation option is used for treatments such as:

• Root Canals: During root canal therapy, which thoroughly cleans the tooth's root system, oral sedation helps patients relax and feel at ease.
• Crown and Bridge Work: Because crown and bridge work can be time-consuming and involve several steps, sedation can help patients feel less uncomfortable and exhausted.
• Tooth Extractions: Oral sedation is frequently used when extracting several teeth at once or extracting impacted teeth.
• Dental Implants: Sedation greatly enhances patient experience and cooperation during the surgical placement of implants, which entails drilling into the jawbone.
• Children Receiving Extensive Treatment: Oral sedation is especially beneficial for children who are extremely nervous or who are having several procedures done in a single visit, such as crowns, fillings, or extractions.
• Veneers or Smile Makeovers: Because these can require extended appointments, oral sedation helps patients relax.

Intravenous (IV) Sedation

This type of sedation is the most profound. The drug is administered intravenously and acts quickly. It makes it easier to regulate the neurological and motor systems. It also enables the dentist to use even reversal medications and modify the level during the intervention.

This sedation option is used for treatments such as:

• Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction: Because of the duration and difficulty of the procedure, intravenous sedation is frequently chosen for the extraction of impacted or surgically complex wisdom teeth.
• Surgical Tooth Extractions: Especially when it's necessary to cut or remove bone, or when several teeth are extracted in a single visit.
• Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery: This type of surgery is used to correct jaw abnormalities.
• Full-Arch Restorations: It takes a lot of time and may require a lot of drilling.
• Sinus Lifts or Bone Grafting: These are surgical, invasive procedures where IV sedation helps manage anxiety and discomfort.

What Are the Advantages of Sedation in Dentistry?

Sedation helps patients stay relaxed during lengthy procedures and makes it easier for dentists to perform treatments. Once the client is calm and free of anguish or stress, we can work under better conditions and a favorable prognosis. This helps ensure a more positive outcome for you, too.

Moreover, by facilitating your tranquility and comfort, we can prevent negative experiences with the dentist, which could easily become the source of dental anxiety. This is especially important with pediatric patients.

In short, sedation increases the possibilities of patient cooperation, ensures the patient’s comfort, and promotes long-term success of dental treatments!

Find a Sedation Dentist in Porterville, CA, That Prioritizes Your Needs

If you don’t like going to the dentist, dental sedation can become your biggest aid as it keeps you comfortable during dental procedures. Depending on the treatment, the Live Oak Dental Group dental team may suggest different methods; however, we’ll also value your opinion.

If you dislike certain types of anesthesia (or feel like the option proposed is too subtle, too!), let us know. We’ll work together to find the best option for you. Contact us today and set an appointment to learn more!