Dental Conscious Sedation

Dental sedation is a general term that refers to the use of different types of anesthesia during dental treatment. Sedation in dentistry, however, does not imply that the patient is unconscious. Actually, the correct term is dental conscious sedation as the patient is always conscious. Sedation in dentistry is also used to manage patients with dental phobias, children or those who find it difficult to control their movements. Some classes of mild or strong sedatives may also be used to relieve anxiety or to put a patient in a sleep-like state to make a dental procedure painless. Sedation is mostly used during dental procedures that take a long time.

Much depends upon the dental procedure, state of teeth and patient preferences. Sedation during dental procedures may also be required for short procedures if the patient has extremely sensitive teeth. The simplest form of sedation is application of topical oral cream that is rubbed on the gums. Dental IV sedation, on the other hand, is the preferred choice if the patient does not want to be aware of what is happing during treatment.

Children have an inherent fear of the dentist. Some may have had an earlier experience that was traumatic. In addition, children will obviously resist the use of needle in the mouth to induce a local anesthetic. This necessitates pediatric dental sedation so that little is felt or remembered. Sedating children, however, is a delicate matter and has to be handled with extreme care.

You are not alone if you dislike dental treatment. Most people have the same aversion and it is the most common reason why people avoid dental treatments. Ignoring dental treatment, however, can lead to serious consequences. Sedation in dentistry is meant exactly for people like you and me. Different types of sedative agents are used in dentistry. Your dentist will determine whether you need oral dental sedation or nitrous oxide or intravenous drugs for a deeper sedation.

It is also important to remember that sedation is not for everyone. Sedation is advisable if you have dental anxiety, sensitive teeth and fear of needles or dental phobias. It is also recommended if you have had a previous traumatic experience or have little time for dental work done or there is a need for complex dental procedures. Some patients, for example people with Parkinson’s disease or cerebral palsy, have difficulty in controlling movements in which case sedation is of extreme importance. It is important that you discuss with your dentist medications that you may already be taking or allergic reactions to drugs. Dental sedation is generally meant only for patients above 18 years and in case of children below that age a pediatric dental professional should be consulted who is qualified to treat children.