There are plenty of things in life that are hard or difficult without having to throw fear into the mix. Frequent visits to the dentist are critical for the best dental health possible. Many people have a serious fear of going to the dentist. In a dental office, you are on your back with people looking over you. Being in a vulnerable position can make things difficult for you.
In situations where anxiety is a major issue, don’t suffer through in silence. Talk to your dentist about dental sedation options and how they can help reduce or even remove anxiety during any dental procedure.
Why Dental Sedation?
Dental sedation can be used to calm a person down and there are many different levels of sedation available. Don’t assume that this is only for people getting wisdom teeth removed or undergoing major oral surgery. That is one major type of dental sedation, but it is far from the only one.
Often times, a small amount of sedation can slow down the rapid heartbeat. It reduces the overthinking that creates the anxiety in the first place. This gives the mind and body signals to relax which can eliminate even the worst anxiety that many people suffer.
Multiple Sedation Options
There are multiple types of sedation options. This is great news for someone who needs some help to relax during dental services.
Minimal Sedation
Minimal sedation refers to when the patient is 100% awake, but extremely relaxed. This is the type of sedation that will be most common to relax you for simple procedures. Deep sedation is not needed in these cases.
Moderate Sedation aka “Conscious Sedation”
Sometimes you will hear this referred to as conscious sedation. The patient still conscious in this procedure, but they might slur their words when speaking. They can react to questions or requests (like “open your mouth wider”) but will not remember very much of the procedure.
Deeper Sedation
This is a much different type of sedation. While you are still technically conscious, you may be asleep throughout major parts of the procedure. You can be awakened throughout the procedure as needed, but you may go in and out of consciousness. You will probably not remember anything about the procedure afterwards.
General Anesthesia
This is the same as general anesthesia for surgery. This is used only for extremely serious or labor intensive oral surgery. With general anesthesia, you are completely unconscious. This is done only under the attention of a trained anesthesiologist.
When it comes to getting your dental work taken care of, make sure to look at the options you may have to handle any general anxiety. Take the fear out of going to the dentist and finally get the beautiful smile that you deserve.
To speak with a dentist participating with Costa Rica Dental Guide, please fill out the “Help me Find a Dentist” form in the sidebar and mention your interest in dental sedation. A participating dental specialist will contact you to get you started on the road to a new healthy, beautiful mouth.