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Does the thought of having your teeth cleaned make your entire body tense with fear? If you are afraid to go to the dentist, relax! If you avoid the dentist, sedation dentistry may help take away some of your anxiety. Sedation can be used for everything from invasive procedures to simple tooth cleanings. How it is used depends greatly on the severity of your fear. Be open with your Duluth, GA dentist, and inform them of your fears so you can receive the dental care you need. What is Sedation Dentistry? Sedation dentistry utilizes medication to help fearful patients relax during dental procedures. The levels of sedation used include:
* Minimal sedation - you are awake, but relaxed.
* Moderate sedation (conscious sedation) - you may not remember much of the procedure.
* Deep sedation - you are on the edge of consciousness, but can still be awakened.
* General anesthesia - you are completely unconscious The use of sedation in the dental office is most appropriate for people with a real fear or anxiety that is preventing them from going to the dentist to receive the care they need. Sedation dentistry may also be appropriate for people who: * Have a low pain threshold
* Can't sit still in the dentist's chair
* Have very sensitive teeth
* Have a bad gag reflex
* Need a large amount of dental work completed Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is one of several sedation dentistry options available to significantly reduce your fears and discomfort. The benefits of nitrous oxide include:
* It's effective for mild to moderate anxiety
* Proven safety record
* Offers a pain relieving effect
* It's quick-acting, with few side effects
* You don't need someone to escort you to and from the office
* You can return to normal activities immediately
* In many cases, you can get all of your dental work completed in one visit Nitrous oxide is the most frequently used sedation method. While under nitrous oxide sedation, you will remain conscious and able to breathe on your own, with a sense of total well-being. Oral Conscious Sedation (Moderate Sedation) Oral conscious sedation utilizes an oral sedative medication to help eliminate your dental anxiety and does not require needles to administer. It is prescribed for relieving anxiety in the hours immediately before a dental appointment. In dentistry, the most commonly prescribed medicine for relieving anxiety belongs to the benzodiazepine family. These medications often include Valium, Halcion, Xanax or Ativan. The use of oral sedation decreases anxiety by binding with receptors in the brain which tone down activity in parts of the brain responsible for fear. If you take oral sedation, you should not travel on your own - make sure you have someone to drive to there and back. Sedation dentistry has allowed many patients who would not otherwise have made good on dental appointments to come out of hiding. Talk to your Duluth dentist for more information on how sedation dentistry can help relieve your anxiety and allow you to receive necessary dental care.
Dr. Tatiana Shifrin has been a dentist in Duluth, GA since 1997. She is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology and received her dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Shifrin, Duluth cosmetic dentist, is committed to learning and receives over 100 hours each year in continuing education.
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