
Apr
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.
Anxiety-free dentistry comes in many shapes and sizes to cater to different needs. The common types of sedation include the following:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you want to feel more relaxed during your upcoming dental appointment in Centennial, CO, please call (720) 573-2454 to talk to Dr. Khodakhast about painless dentistry.