Do you or someone you know dread going to the dentist? We’re not just talking about a little anxiety. We’re talking about morbid fear and downright nervousness, so much so that you cannot go to the dentist. If so, sedation dentistry may be the answer to your problems.
Sedation Dentistry
Dental phobia is real. According to NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), dental fear and anxiety affect 36% of the population with 12% having an extreme phobia.
Sedation dentistry, or sleep dentistry, allows the dental patient to remain calm and relaxed during their dental appointment. Oral conscious sedation is another term for sedation dentistry. Medications are in pill or liquid form, which the patient takes in by mouth. With this technique, a patient dozes off during their dental visit. Sometimes the patients fall asleep, thus the name “sleep dentistry.” Since the patient is calm and relaxed, the dental treatment is not as complicated and challenging. Some patients doze off so well that they don’t realize that their visit is over when they wake up. Now that’s a pleasant surprise.
Sedation Dentistry Safety
Sedation dentistry can be used safely for nearly every adult. During your initial visit, our sedation dentist performs an exam and finds out what your concerns are. Our staff will take X-rays and necessary photos and records. Based on the information during the examination, our dentist then comes up with a plan of action for your dental care. After a complete review of your medical history, our doctor will also prescribe specific medications to take for your next visit. When you arrive at your appointment, you will take other necessary medications to achieve an optimal and comfortable sedation level. Only after a comfortable level of sedation has been reached, the doctor will begin your dental treatment.
Throughout your treatment, our dentist monitors your vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. We want to assure your safety and the most comfortable level of sedation possible. Complications are rare. However, our sedation dentist has extensive training just in case.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
The most apparent benefit of sedation dentistry is the patient’s comfort and dozing off during their visit. However, there are some additional fringe benefits to sedation dentistry. One of these is not being able to remember the details of the visit the next day. The patient recalls going to the dentist. But the patient cannot remember the details of the treatment. Another benefit of sedation dentistry is less stress on the patient’s body.
When we are nervous about something, our body releases a hormone called adrenaline. Adrenaline is responsible for increasing our heart rate, raising blood pressure, increasing blood sugar levels, and making us more alert. Of course, the increases in heart rate and blood pressure place an increased workload on the cardiovascular system. The increased workload raises the patient’s chances of having a heart attack or a stroke. Also, the fluctuations in blood sugar can increase the risk of developing diabetes over time.
Sleep dentistry can help change the patient’s perception of dentistry. Most dental phobias result from a poor dental experience, usually as a child, teen, or young adult. However, when the patient discovers that dentistry is not horrifying, they begin to relax and once again trust the dentist. The patient is more likely to visit the dentist for their regular checkups without fear and anxiety. Regular dental checkups help maintain patients’ dental health and catch small problems before they become significant issues.
Quicker recovery from sleep dentistry is yet another benefit. Compared to other sedation forms such as I.V. or general anesthesia, the patient recovers after the procedure more quickly with fewer side effects like nausea or constipation.
Sedation Dentistry Cost
When it comes to cost, sedation dentistry is more economical compared to other anesthesia alternatives. I.V. sedation or general anesthesia starts at about $800 for the first fifteen minutes. The final cost can quickly run into thousands. At a fraction of the initial cost of I.V. sedation, sleep dentistry is very affordable.
Not only that, since the recovery is quicker, the patient can resume work sooner after their treatment. The patient usually takes off one day and can return to work the following day. Less time off work means less loss of income.
At Platinum Dental in San Marcos, Dr. Eslampour offers sedation dentistry to his dental phobic patients. If you or someone you know fears going to the dentist, have them contact us. We’ll answer their questions and concerns even before they walk in through the front door. Sleep dentistry has made it possible for fearful patients to have dental care without the nail-biting experience. Call us now at (760) 510-9009 to schedule your consultation or fill out the form below and we’ll reach out to you.