When it comes to dental sedation, there are various levels of care depending on the individual's needs. Factors such as anxiety levels, the length of the procedure, health history, and personal preferences all come into play. The most common types of dental sedation include nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and intravenous (IV) sedation. Unless you choose nitrous oxide as your sedation option, you'll need to have a trusted friend or family member drive you home after your appointment.
It's important to go straight home and rest while the sedative effect wears off. Dental sedation is generally not recommended for pregnant people because some sedative medications can affect fetal development. In some cases, nitrous oxide may be given during the second trimester. However, in general, most dentists wait until after pregnancy to administer dental sedation.
If you've had nitrous oxide, you can return to your normal activities once you leave the dental office. However, if you've been given oral or intravenous sedatives, you'll need to wait at least a full day before returning to work or school. Your dentist can tell you what to expect in your situation. If you've been given oral or intravenous sedation, you'll have to wait a full 24 hours before driving again. A face mask or intravenous sedation is the most common method of administering general anesthesia by dentists with extensive training and experience.
A constant flow of anesthesia is maintained throughout the treatment. When you fall asleep in the dental chair, you will breathe through a special tube. Intravenous sedation is the only form of sedation that cannot be interrupted by any activity other than the most strenuous. Intravenous sedation uses the same medications as an oral sedative. A mild dose of sedation won't work if you're afraid of the dentist or if you have a weak gag reflex and don't want to be awake.
Don't worry; both the FDA and the ADA have approved the use of nitrous oxide, oral sedation, dentistry, and any other medications given during the procedure. Depending on your health, your treatment, and any insurance issues you may have, the type of care you receive may vary. Dentists often recommend this type of sedation for treatments that last a long time or require a high degree of care. It's important to make sure that your dentist is trained and qualified to administer the type of sedation you will receive. The fear of sedation is mainly based on stories and myths that have been transmitted from generation to generation. It is sometimes referred to as conscious sedation, dentistry, or “twilight sleep” because it creates a short-term state of amnesia (lack of memory) in which one experiences insensitivity to pain without losing consciousness.
Regardless of the type of sedation you receive, you will usually also need a local anesthetic (a numbing medication where the dentist is working in the mouth) to relieve pain if the procedure causes you any discomfort. Intravenous sedation or “twilight sleep” helps you feel comfortable and calm when you have dental procedures. Sedation is most appropriate for people who have real fear or anxiety that prevents them from going to the dentist. It's common for general anesthesia to be used for things like tooth extractions or wisdom teeth extraction. Let's discuss the various causes of dental sedation and how each of them could be used in specific situations. However, only a small percentage of dentists who have completed the Dental Accreditation Commission (CODA) deep sedation and general anesthesia program can use these more complex techniques.
General anesthesia in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center may be needed when treating young children, adults with special needs, or people with severe dental anxiety. With oral conscious sedation, your dentist gives you a sedative medication (usually in pill form) about an hour before the procedure begins. Sometimes, children receive sedation if they are afraid to go to the dentist or refuse to cooperate during the visit. Most people who receive intravenous sedation (dentistry) fall asleep and have little or no memory of the treatment when they wake up. If you've only had nitrous oxide, you can drive once you're discharged from the dental office. It's important to remember that if you've been given oral or intravenous sedatives, you'll need to wait at least a full day before returning to work or school and 24 hours before driving again.
