Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Almost a third of Americans feel nervous and anxious when visiting a dentist. If you’re among them, you could benefit from a different type of dental experience. At Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Center, we use advanced techniques in sedation dentistry to help you relax during your appointment because patients who are relaxed experience many benefits including a greater willingness to seek out treatment before dental problems get out of hand.

Sedation dentistry involves the use of specialized medications that includes a blend of sedatives and pain medication to help patients relax while they’re in the dental chair. The medication is chosen on the basis of each patient’s specific needs and it can be administered up to two hours before the procedure begins.

Some patients may need only light sedation for a short procedure while another patient undergoing more extensive work, may need to be more deeply sedated. The amount and type of sedation that we use at Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Center¹ is based on a number of different factors. The patient’s anxiety level may inform the type of pain medication and sedation they’re given and how deeply the patient is relaxed, but the type of procedure and its projected duration is another important consideration. The medication may be inhaled or it can be administered as a pill or an IV. General anesthesia is also available.

So what are some of the potential benefits of sedation dentistry and why should you consider giving it a try? Below are some of the top reasons why so many patients today have chosen to be sedated and relaxed during their dental procedures:

Get Treatment Comfortably

Some patients have very sensitive teeth and gums or a strong gag reflex. By administering sedation, we’re able to perform the necessary dental procedures without the same level of stress that patients are used to experiencing. When the patient is fully relaxed, treatment is easier both for the patient as well as for the dentist. With the patient deeply relaxed and comfortable, our dental staff is able to focus exclusively on performing dental work at our optimum level.

Accomplish More in Fewer Appointments

Sedation makes it possible to perform extensive dental procedures in only one visit. That’s because patients who have not been sedated have an emotional threshold as far as what they can tolerate in just one sitting. But sedated patients are calm, relaxed, and the treated areas are completely numb. So, whether you need a root canal or treatment for ailing gums, sedation can help our dentists at Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Center accomplish more in less time.

Choose Sedation for Special Needs Patients

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders or other Sensory Processing Disorders benefit tremendously from sedation dentistry. For these individuals, hypersensitivity and notable discomfort is the norm. But sedation dentistry makes it possible for special needs patients to feel relaxed and comfortable during teeth cleanings, cavity fillings, and other procedures.

Choose sedation for children

Sedation dentistry can help children avoid developing phobias about going to the dentist. Children who are afraid to go to the dentist can be terrified of even the most basic dental procedures. But when their experience is regularly a positive one, it’s much less likely that they’ll experience fear about going to get their teeth cleaned or having a cavity filled. Most children have little to no memory of the dental procedure after their appointment with us at Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Center. As such, sedation dentistry can save parents a lot of difficulty getting their kids to the dentist for treatment and guarantee that the dental staff will be able to focus on the child’s dental needs during their scheduled appointment.

Prevent Phobias and Anxiety

According to statistics, as many as 75% of Americans feel dental anxiety as a result of at least one traumatic experience at the dentist. As a result of one painful or frightening experience in the dental chair, patients feel fear or anxiety that makes them want to avoid the dentist altogether. One of the biggest benefits of sedation dentistry is that both adults and children can avoid potentially traumatic experiences that can predispose them to dental anxiety or dental phobias. And adults can avoid having new, reinforcing negative experiences at the dentist and instead reframe their view of dentistry as an experience that is largely a relaxing and positive one.