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Does the thought of going to the dentist send shivers up your spine, preventing you from receiving appropriate dental treatments? If so, sedation dentistry is used to provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience while receiving dental treatment. Sedation dentistry enables patients who are too afraid to go to the dentist to receive the dental care they need while avoiding their anxieties and phobias. With advancements in dentistry, pain is almost a thing of the past with sedation. Powerful pain-killing medications known as anesthetics not only help you avoid discomfort during a procedure, but post-operatively as well. According to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, 30 percent of the population avoids the dentist due to fear, which prevents people from receiving necessary routine dental care. What is Sedation Dentistry? Sedation is a process used to establish a relaxed, easy and calm state through the use of sedatives, which can be administered in a variety of ways. In the past, IV sedation was predominantly used to sedate a dental patient. IV sedation is both safe and effective. However, sedation dentistry has evolved to be even more conducive to a relaxing experience. Patients have alternatives to the traditional modalities of inhalation and IVs, such as those offering a "no needle" approach that many people find appealing. Today, oral sedation is now the most common technique used in the United States and Canada to ease patient fears. Oral sedation is easy and requires no needles. The medications used create a comfortable experience, in which most patients do not even remember the visit, as if they slept through the entire treatment. Oral sedation maintains a level of consciousness in the patient for safety and cooperation. Although some forms of sedation may raise your threshold for pain, most dental treatments may still require a local anesthetic injected in the mouth, even when sedation dentistry techniques are performed. Using a local anesthetic will temporarily block pain impulses from the affected teeth and gum tissue. The injection of the anesthetic will be injected after you have already been sedated and comfortable, so you will most likely not be bothered by or remember the sensation of having the injection. Benefits of Sedation Dentistry One of the main benefits of sedation dentistry is that people often feel as if their dental procedure lasted only a few minutes, when it might have taken hours to perform. Complex dental procedures, such as smile makeovers or extensive rebuilding procedures that normally require multiple visits can often be performed in fewer appointments. Sedation dentistry can make you feel comfortable during the treatment process and help you achieve a smile you can be proud of. In addition, since sedation dentistry addresses some of the fears that keep people from going to the dentist on a regular basis, sedation dentistry patients are more likely to receive recommended routine care. As a result, patients are less likely to neglect their oral health or allow problems to build to the point when drastic dental treatments become necessary. It is important to know that a visit to the dentist can be positive, even when treatment is necessary. Sedation dentistry offers safe, effective, and comfortable treatments for anxious and fearful patients. If you suffer from dental phobia or anxiety, contact your sedation dentist in Everett today for further consultation on appropriate sedation to help calm your fears. With advances in dentistry, you no longer have to avoid dental care due to fear.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading cosmetic dentist in Everett, Dr. Rachel Mahoney. Offering a full array of dental services including implants in Everett, sedation and cosmetic dentistry, this gentle dentist in Lake Stevens, Mukilteo and Everett is qualified to handle any dental need.
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