When was the last time you visited the dentist for a routine checkup? Six months? A year? Two years? Five years? Your sedation dentist in Inwood Village understands that dental anxiety and dental phobia are very real phenomena, so you shouldn’t feel guilty for skipping visits for this reason. However, not seeing your dentist regularly puts your oral and overall health at risk, so you’ll want to consider sedation dentistry, which is the process of using sedatives for dental treatments.
Ideal for Patients with Anxiety and Dental Phobia
The most common reason your dentist uses sedation is for temporarily easing patient anxiety and phobias. Before you receive any sedatives, your dentist makes sure you’re not taking any medications that could conflict with them, as well as ask you many questions beforehand. When administered by a certified medical professional, sedation dentistry is completely safe.
Perfect for Long Treatments
Sedation dentistry is also ideal for patients who need a treatment that will take several hours to complete. While most dental treatments don’t take very long, there are certain exceptions that warrant the need for sedation, even if the patient has no anxiety. If you need to have multiple wisdom teeth extracted or multiple dental implants placed, sedation may be recommended to you beforehand.
Little to No Memory of Treatment
All sedation methods are designed to make you feel incredibly relaxed during treatment. For this reason, many patients end up falling asleep throughout the procedure, even though sedation is meant to keep you slightly conscious in order to communicate with the dentist when needed. Therefore, patients with anxiety or dental phobia will be happy to learn that much of their treatment will be very difficult to remember.
Sedation Isn’t Limited to Anxious Patients
While anxious patients are generally the most common types of people seeking sedation, they aren’t the only group to utilize it. It’s also very common for patients with a sensitive gag reflex or low pain threshold. While it’s not the patient’s fault for having these attributes, dentists won’t be able to work confidently if a patient can’t keep still. Furthermore, those with difficulty sitting still in the dental chair or with cognitive impairments can also benefit from sedation techniques.
Making Preventive Dentistry Easy
Arguably, the most substantial benefit to sedation dentistry is that you’re able to get the treatments you need. At-home care is only one piece of the oral health puzzle, according to your sedation dentist in Inwood Village. By having routine dental visits, your dentist is able to:
- Catch early signs of dental disease
- Catch early signs of systemic disease (i.e. heart disease, diabetes, oral cancer, etc.)
- Provide a deep cleaning with tools and materials not available in-stores
Do you think you would make a good candidate for sedation? Schedule an appointment with your dentist in Inwood Village to learn more about the process today!
About the Author
Dr. Davina Prida earned her degree at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, where she graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). She is a member of the Dallas County Dental Society, Texas Dental Association, American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Prida is also a member of the Texas Army National Guard. One of her main focuses is creating beautiful Smiles. She ia a Top Dallas Dentist Providing High Quality Dental Care, General Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, and Reconstructive Dentistry. Dr Davina Prida is fulfilling her vision of bringing the very best in cosmetic dentistry, reconstructive dentistry and general dentistry to Dallas at Inwood Village Dental. Dr. Prida’s approach of dental excellence and her use of advanced techniques, create the most natural, beautiful smiles possible. Dr. Prida is Dallas’ top cosmetic dentist, creating amazing smile makeovers with veneers, dental implants, dental crowns and bridges and Invisalign®. If you have questions about your dental treatment or dental care options, don’t hesitate to contact her at Inwood Village Dental or at (214) 352-2777.