Dentistry Sedation: Addressing both Mental and Physical Fear

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Pharmeceutical-Medical )



REAL FEARS

Many people have an irrational fear of going to the dentist and have their teeth fixed. The truth is that the fear is more about of losing control than fear of the actual pain itself; psychological more than physical.

Dentists recognize that the fear, while often unfounded, is very real and should be properly addressed. Dentists now offer a wide variety of dentistry sedation methods to suit the various needs of every patient.

There are many types of dentistry sedation, each one suitable to a particular case. Not all dentistry sedation types can be used for everyone because they each have their own limitations and contraindications. You as a patient have limited choices because not all types of dentistry sedation will be effective and appropriate for your unique situation.

GENERAL AND LOCAL

One type is the general anesthesia, also known as IV sedation. This type will render you totally unconscious and devoid of any muscle control. However, because this type of dentistry sedation collapses the airway, you will need some form of breathing support system. That is why IV sedation is recommended only for major oral procedures. Not all dentists can administer IV sedation, because it requires special training and certification.

The lesser types of dentistry sedation can be administered orally, and once ingested causes the anesthetic effect, or through the inhalation of anesthetic drugs. These two types are called conscious sedation because you are fully conscious and have full control of your mental and physical faculties. These types of dentistry sedation are also referred to as local anesthetics.

The problem with conscious dentistry sedation is that patients have varying anesthetic thresholds. Some need very minimal amounts to achieve anesthesia, but there are some who will require more. Moreover, some patients expect to feel no sensation at all, and panic at the slightest feeling of pain. That is why these types of dentistry sedation can be tricky to administer.


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