Sedation Dentistry
Many people avoid going to the Dentist because they are fearful that they will experience pain before, during, or after their dental visit. With all of the anesthetic options available these days, patients are finding dental work to be less painful than in the past. Most dental pain can now be avoided. Also, there are many analgesics that are available by prescription to help with the pain that might come after the actual treatment is completed. Here are some examples of pain medications and options that are available in our dental offices.
Local Anesthetics – Anesthetics are defined as agents that depress or suppress nerve impulse functions which result in temporary, total or partial loss of sensation. Local anesthetics are used to numb the area where treatment will be performed. Usually, a Dentist will apply a topical anesthetic first to the area where an injection is needed. This will numb the surface area of the gums which will make the injection more tolerable. The local anesthetic will numb deep into the gum tissue and cause numbness to the tooth so that you temporarily will feel nothing during treatment. The most common local anesthetics used in our dental offices today are Lidocaine and Septocaine. If you happen to have an allergy to either of these medications, please inform your Dentist so that alternate anesthetics may be used.
Sedation Dentistry – Even with the use of anesthetics, some patients are still nervous about dental treatment. Receiving the injection alone can cause stress to certain people. In these cases, a patient in consultation with their Dentist may choose to use sedation dentistry to help them relax.
There are two types of sedation that are available in our dental office: Nitrous Oxide and Conscious Sedation (commonly referred to as I.V. sedation). Both Nitrous Oxide and I.V. sedation can be performed safely in the dental office and the level of sedation can be adjusted for each patient.
In order to perform I.V. sedation (which is a deeper level of sedation than nitrous oxide) the Dentist must have special training and be certified to perform this service. In the state of New Mexico, I.V. sedation certification is not very common amongst most general dentists. Our Dentists have performed thousands of I.V. sedation cases and are some of the most experienced general dentists performing this service. Most of the Dentists at our dental offices have taken the extra training and received their I.V. sedation certification.
The most common form of sedation involves the use of Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, where a patient is mildly sedated to a state of ultra relaxation, which will allow the Dentist to do the necessary procedures with a very relaxed patient. Nitrous oxide has been used for years and years in the dental profession.
Other times, with patients who are extremely nervous about dental procedures, or when more involved surgery is taking place, I.V. sedation is necessary. This involves the placement of a catheter (I.V.) and then the administration of a sedative medication, such as Versed, through the I.V. During I.V. sedation your vital signs are monitored at all times. Many of our patients will dose off into a gentle nap during I.V. sedation. We have performed thousands of dental procedures with I.V. sedation and have found this to be very safe and effective.
Analgesics- Once dental procedures have been performed, it is often necessary for a patient to continue taking oral analgesics to minimize and control their pain. Most often, patients are advised to take over the counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen, Tylenol, or Aspirin to help ease the pain after dental treatment. In certain cases, if the OTC medications are not relieving the pain, a Dentist may choose to prescribe a stronger medication to alleviate the pain. If you are experiencing extreme pain after a dental procedure that doesn’t seem to get relief from the pain medication, you should immediately see your Dentist to decide what your next option is for pain relief.
In any case, it is important to understand that your Dentist wants you to be as comfortable as possible before, during, and after a dental procedure. Having a relaxed patient in the dental chair is a more pleasant experience for everyone involved, especially, you the patient. Any concerns you might have should be discussed with your Dentist before any treatment is performed.
