Sedation Dentistry Services In San Antonio, Texas
Are you afraid of dental treatment? You are not alone. Sedation can help ease your anxiety. You can wake to a new smile, with little memory of treatment. Forget you were here! Leave smiling.
According to the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), an estimated 12% of people have high dental fear and another 17.5% have moderate dental fear. That’s more than the percentage of people with a fear of heights, fear of snakes, fear of being alone, or fear of falling!
One of the worst things about dental anxiety is that it can make people avoid the dental office at all costs, except for emergencies. Without going to the dentist twice a year, there’s a huge risk for a small dental problem developing into a bigger one, since most of us can’t identify warning signs.
Fortunately, sedation dentistry is a solution for dental fear and can give patients peace of mind about visiting the dentist.
Reasons For Sedation Dentistry
Not sure if you have dental fear? There are actually some signs and symptoms for it, such as trouble sleeping the night before your dental visit, feeling nervous in the dental office waiting room, and uneasiness at the thought of objects being placed in your mouth. But dental fear is just one reason sedation dentistry is helpful. Here are some other reasons for sedation dentistry:
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It completely relaxes the patient, leaving them refreshed after any dental work.
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It allows the dentist to deliver high-quality care in a shorter amount of time.
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It eliminates pain or makes the patient unaware of it.
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It helps patients who are unaffected by numbing.
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It allows more precise placement of dental implants if needed.
Types Of Sedation Dentistry
Now that you know the reasons for sedation dentistry, you should know about the different types of sedation dentistry and which is right for you. The type of sedation dentistry you’ll use depends on the procedure and your level of dental anxiety. There are generally two types of sedation dentistry:
Oral Sedation
The most common type, oral sedation simply involves taking a pill. The dosage is usually ideal for minimal or moderate sedation.
IV Sedation
Ideal for patients with high dental anxiety, IV sedation delivers a sedative into your vein, leaving you almost or totally unconscious. You’ll have no memory of the treatment.