We know it’s vital to complement at-home dental care with routine dental checkups. Unfortunately, many can’t shake off the irrational fear that comes with dental appointments. Fortunately, dental clinics like Argyle Family Dental in Centennial, Colorado, offer dental sedation to help patients calm their nerves as they receive their much-needed dental care.

If you have dental fear, sedation dentistry seems the perfect solution for all your problems. But is it? For the most part, dental sedation makes patients drowsy, relaxed, and carefree to brave dental procedures that ordinarily they would avoid. But like any medical procedure, sedation dentistry has potential risks, so evaluating all risks is vital to determine the best treatment for your unique situation.

Sedation dentistry options and potential risks

Anxiety-free dentistry comes in many shapes and sizes to cater to different needs. The common types of sedation include the following: 

• Nitrous oxide: Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is the most common sedation type dentists use. The treatment involves inhaling nitrous oxide through a mask fitted over the nose. This sedation keeps you relaxed but awake to follow through with the treatment. The sedation effects wear quickly after treatment, so you won’t need someone to accompany you to our office

If there are any side effects of nitrous oxide, they occur when the gas is inhaled too quickly or in excess. Possible side effects include nausea, drowsiness, excessive sweating, and dizziness.

• Oral conscious sedation: The treatment involves taking a prescribed oral pill before undergoing treatment. Like nitrous oxide, you remain awake throughout your treatment but in a deeply relaxed mode. You may fall asleep because of the calming effect, but a slight nudge is enough to wake you

Possible risks include dizziness, vomiting, headaches, and dry mouth. Since we all react differently to medication, the experience of these side effects isn’t guaranteed.

• IV sedation: This treatment is ideal for patients with severe dental phobia or undergoing extensive dental work. IV sedation leaves the patient unconscious, so it must be done in a dental clinic with specialized equipment and a well-trained team to monitor your vital signs

Older patients or those with pre-existing morbidities are more vulnerable to adverse outcomes like pneumonia, post-operative confusion, breathing difficulties, and irregular heartbeats. While possible, these side effects are pretty rare, and they can easily be brought under control when they arise.

Your safety is our priority at Argyle Family Dental

Sedation dentistry is generally safe when administered by a qualified dentist. Trained dentists like Dr. Ava Khodakhast administer adequate sedation to ensure your safety at all times.  

However, certain risk factors like smoking, certain medications, and health conditions like sleep apnea may prevent your dentist from administering sedatives. Your dentist must examine your medical history and current health condition before sedation. Additionally, your dentist must continually monitor your vital signs during sedation and have oxygen and drugs in sight to reverse sedation in case of adverse reactions.

Preparing before sedation dentistry to optimize your safety

Before anything else, ensure the dentist is qualified to administer the type of sedation at hand. Also, you must ensure your dentist reviews your medical history to determine your eligibility for sedation. Additionally, it would be best to ask whether the dosage you’re receiving is FDA-approved. Generally, feel free to ask as many questions as possible to clear up any ambiguities. 

Lastly, all sedation types require an empty stomach. So, don’t eat anything for at least eight hours before your procedure. Your dentist will provide you with more precise instructions before your sedation appointment.

Overcome the fear of the dentist with anxiety-free dentistry 

If you want to feel more relaxed during your upcoming dental appointment in Centennial, CO, please call (303) 770-2254 to talk to Dr. Khodakhast about painless dentistry. 

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