Does the mere thought of a routine teeth cleaning make you anxious? Would you rather suffer agonizing tooth pain than visit your dentist for a checkup? The good news is that you are not alone and that you can do something about your fear of dental appointments.
For individuals who avoid dental visits due to anxiety or fear, sedation dentistry could be effective at taking away some of their stress and anxiety. Here at Briar Pointe Dentistry in Novi, MI, our dentists, Dr. Neil Blavin, Dr. Rikki Blavin, and Dr. Aaron Zeevi, utilize safe sedation techniques for routine cleaning, more complex treatments, and everything in between.
Understanding Sedation Dentistry
Put simply, sedation dentistry utilizes medications for helping patients relax and calm down during dental treatments. These medications can be administered orally or intravenously (IV). Depending on the particular procedure to be performed, your dentist will choose from the following sedation levels:
- Minimal Sedation: You’re relaxed but completely awake.
- Moderate Sedation: Also known as conscious sedation. You’re awake but have slurred speech and won’t remember everything that happened during treatment.
- Deep Sedation: You’re in between consciousness and sleep but can be woken up.
- General Anesthesia: You’re 100% unconscious.
Suitable Candidates for Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is most suitable for individuals with real anxiety or fear that prevents them from receiving the dental care they need. It may likewise be suitable for individuals who:
- Have a developmental, behavioral, or neurological disorder that prevents them from sitting still or following instructions
- Have low pain tolerance
- Have extremely sensitive teeth and/or sensory processing disorder
- Have an uncontrollable gag reflex
- Require extensive dental work
A Vital Note on The Safety of Sedation Dentistry
It is immensely crucial to make certain that the dentist offering sedation dentistry is qualified, trained, and experienced in the specific sedation dentistry technique that will be performed on you. Like our Novi, MI, dentist, for instance, who has used sedation dentistry for thousands of our patients within the last 20 years. Remember that as with any treatment, dental or otherwise, the more experience the doctor has, the better.
In addition, sedation dentistry, although generally safe when performed by an experienced dentist, there are certain individuals who are just not right for the procedure. Individuals with sleep apnea or obesity, for instance, have a raised risk of developing complications, so they’ll need to go-signal from their primary doctor first before undergoing sedation dentistry.
Talk to Us For More Details or Questions on Sedation Dentistry
Schedule a meeting with your dentist in Novi, MI, Dr. Neil Blavin, Dr. Rikki Blavin, or Dr. Aaron Zeevi here at Briar Pointe Dentistry by dialing (248) 347-0030.