When it comes to dental procedures, many people experience fear and anxiety. To help them relax, dentists may use sedation. There are three levels of sedation that include minimal, moderate and deep sedation. Minimal sedation keeps the patient relaxed and at a minimally depressed level of consciousness.
Moderate sedation makes the patient sleepy, but still able to respond to orders. Deep sedation causes patients to fall into a state similar to sleep, but they can still respond to acute touch. It is important to note that dental sedation is generally not recommended for pregnant people because some sedative medications can affect fetal development. The type of sedation you'll need depends on several factors, including the procedure, your level of anxiety, and your health. While both sedation and general anesthesia are forms of anesthesia, and sedation is a component of general anesthesia, they are different in several ways. Some dentists use an anesthesiologist, who is specially trained to administer all levels of sedation and anesthesia to both children and adults. In order for dentists to be able to provide dental sedation to patients, they must obtain certification from a sedation dentistry educator in Dallas, TX.
Minimal sedation is administered only to alleviate anxiety, with very little effect on the patient's consciousness, while moderate sedation depresses consciousness but leaves the patient able to respond to external stimuli (tactile or verbal). However, this does not mean that, in some cases, respiratory support with sedation is not needed. People who choose conscious oral sedation or intravenous sedation usually need about 24 hours to fully recover. You will continue to receive local anesthesia to numb your teeth and gums, but the dentist will usually do this once you are comfortable with the sedatives. Sedation is best for people with real fear or anxiety that prevents them from going to the dentist. Minimal sedation (anxiolysis) is a drug-induced state during which patients respond normally to verbal commands.
As an advantage, adverse effects that may be associated with general anesthesia with sedation are avoided. Because sedation is continuous, it's not always possible to predict how an individual patient will respond. However, by gathering all the necessary information beforehand, dentists can recommend the best type of dental sedation based on your specific needs.
