How Sedation Dentistry Helps Nervous Patients

This is when dental sedation is so helpful. It allows patients to feel at ease throughout their treatment, so they can relax without any fear. This is not only great for the patient experience, but it’s also helpful for the dentist, as they can focus on their task and not worry about the patient flinching or becoming distressed.

If you have a long dental procedure scheduled, you might be curious about your options for dental sedation. It’s always best to discuss this with your dentist well in advance, as opting for sedation can change your treatment plan slightly. In this guide, we’re exploring the role of sedation in dentistry and how it can help very nervous patients.

What is dental sedation?

When we talk about sedation, there is often an assumption that we are talking about a general anaesthetic that puts a person to sleep. This is not the case for sedation in a dental practice, as this would require more extensive medical intervention and recovery.

Dental sedation is also known as oral conscious sedation. This means that you take a pill that helps you to relax. You’re still awake, but in a sort of “twilight” state between wakefulness and sleepiness. Some patients do find that they are able to drift off to sleep during their procedure.

Your dentist will easily be able to wake you with a tap on the arm, so you won’t be fully unconscious if you do fall asleep. After the procedure, you might feel a little groggy, so you’ll need someone to accompany you home as you won’t be able to drive.

How does dental sedation help nervous patients?

Very nervous patients might have a hard time relaxing during a dental procedure, which is why dental sedation can be so helpful. When under dental sedation, you will feel very relaxed and calm.

It can take away the fear response, so you no longer feel the sensations associated with dental phobias, including a pounding heart. Another excellent effect of the dental sedation is that patients typically don’t remember the procedure afterwards. This can help to break the cycle of dental phobia by creating a positive experience.

It’s not only great for nervous patients. It can also help patients about to undergo very long procedures. When under dental sedation, you won’t feel as aware and present, which can help to make longer procedures fly by. If you are very relaxed, you might even drift off to sleep. Patients with a strong gag reflex can also benefit from dental sedation.

Is dental sedation right for everyone?

Dental sedation can help lots of patients to overcome their fear of the dentist, but there are some people who won’t be eligible. Your dentist will take a full medical history while planning your treatment and let you know if you are able to have dental sedation.

What happens after dental sedation?

After your procedure, your dentist will move you to a quiet area to allow the effects of the sedation to wear off. You’ll need a chaperone to take you home, as you won’t be able to drive yourself.

You might feel sleepy for the next 12 hours, and most people find they want to go home and sleep off the sedation. We’ll check in the following day to make sure you are feeling well after your procedure.

There are no lingering effects of the sedation, except that you might start to feel more comfortable about visiting the dentist again.