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Relieving Dental Anxiety With Sedation Dentistry

Patient comfort and care is a top priority for a sedation dentist. They recognize that dental anxiety or discomfort can be associated with some dentistry procedures. Fortunately, a variety of dental procedures using dental anesthetics are available to relieve both anxiety and discomfort. Talk with your dentist to find out which is right for you.

Dental Anxiety Relief

Local Anesthetic:

This is the most frequently used type of dental anesthetic for sedation dentistry procedures. Although often referred to as "Novocain," this once popular painkilling drug has actually been replaced by more effective anesthetics such as Lidocaine for a comfortable dental care treatment. It also works very well for temporary relief of a tooth ache.

However, the name has become so much a part of the American vocabulary, it's now used in generic terms. Prior to injecting the local anesthetic, the dentist often swabs a topical anesthetic over the injection site to prevent the patient from even feeling the needle.

Conscious Sedation Dentistry:

Patients seeking comfortable dentistry can consult with their dentists to choose anti-anxiety agents either administered by mouth, inhalation or injection. Nitrous oxide, often referred to as laughing gas, helps to ease patient anxiety. The gas is inhaled by patients, inducing relaxation, so they can approach dental procedures with less stress.

Deep Sedation:

This may be required for complex procedures or for dental patients with special needs. With the administration of general anesthesia, the patient is unconscious; with deep sedation dentistry or sleep dentistry, dental patients are deeply relaxed and not fully aware of their surroundings during their dental treatment.

Consult With Your Dentist

Prior to treatment, your dentist will need to know a few things regarding your health history such as:

• allergies
• your current health condition
• any medications you may be taking.

Some medicines may interfere with the efficiency of an anesthetic requiring an adjustment in your medication schedule. Your health history is very important information for the dentist. During the consultation, you can ask questions about any dental procedures that may be of concern during your dental procedure.

A Concern for Safety

The drugs used as dental anesthetics are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and are safe. Anesthetic providers are professionals with a commitment to patient safety and comfort.

A dental anesthetic can be administered by a general dentist, a dental anesthesiologist or an M.D. Certification is required and is regulated on a state-by-state basis. Discuss sedation with your dentist at your next visit.

By Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

A Trained Sedation Dentist Can Change Your Life

If you are afraid to go to the dentist, relax! Sedation dentistry and a trained sedation dentist can change your life for the better with a light sedative!

You can have the beautiful smile and the good dental health you've always wanted with sedation dentistry. Ask your dentist about more benefits of conscious sedation.

Imagine being able to smile with confidence and chew your food without pain. A sedation dentist and conscious sedation dentistry makes it possible to be totally relaxed during your dental treatment.

You won't feel any discomfort and likely won't remember the treatment itself. Because you'll be completely comfortable, your sedation dentist can do many dental care procedures during the same visit, including:

• whitening yellow or stained teeth
• replacing crowns or dentures
• fixing chipped or damaged teeth
• restoring sore gums to good health

Best of all, you'll probably only need one or two appointments with a dentist using sedation dentistry. So in hours you can start enjoying the confidence that comes with a bright new smile and good dental health.

Plus sedation dentistry is safe. Before your sedation dentist begins work, he or she will thoroughly review your medical history, and then monitor you closely during your conscious sedation dental treatment.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.