Sedation dentistry can give anxious patients an opportunity to access the dental care they need to preserve their smiles. It can even help patients who aren’t particularly fearful to tolerate longer treatment sessions, potentially reducing their overall treatment timeline.
Patients have different options for delivery methods of the sedative medications. They can be taken orally in pill form or intravenously in advance of surgical procedures. Nitrous oxide may also be an appropriate sedative for some interventions.
If you do opt for sedation, be sure that your periodontist is qualified to provide this treatment. The specialist should complete additional training and certifications in this area and be equipped to adequately monitor your status throughout treatment to identify any signs of trouble and act quickly to address them.
When you choose sedation dentistry for a periodontal surgery, your periodontist will discuss the various options with you in advance to help you choose the method that is most suitable for your needs.
IV sedation dentistry gives patients the most powerful sedatives that achieve maximum comfort. Additionally, these drugs have an amnestic effect, meaning that patients will not walk away from the appointment with bad memories that reinforce their fears.
With oral conscious sedation, the patient either takes an anti-anxiety medication, typically some type of benzodiazepine, by mouth in advance of the appointment or receives nitrous oxide at the office. Both of these methods help patients achieve a state of deep relaxation that feels sleep-like, although the patient remains conscious throughout. Like the IV option, these drugs also leave behind no memories of the appointment in most patients.
The different delivery methods have different advantages and disadvantages. For example, the effects of nitrous oxide are reversed by the end of the appointment, while patients who choose oral medications or IV sedation will still be a little woozy.
Selecting the best sedative for you is an important part of preparing for a periodontal treatment. Be sure to gather as much information as you can from your specialist so that you are making a well-informed decision. Feel free to call our office at 212-756-8890 to speak to one of our knowledgeable staff members if you have any questions about your sedation options.
