So, You Have Dental Anxiety
The good news, if you have a dental phobia, is that you’re not alone and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Dentistry is invasive and sometimes painful, and some studies estimate that more than half of Americans fear going to the dentist. For many of those people that anxiety is so extreme that they will do nearly anything to avoid sitting in the dentist’s chair!
Obviously, if your fear is keeping you from visiting the dentist regularly or even at all, you’re putting yourself at tremendous risk for a number of serious oral health problems. But whether your anxiety just makes you a little uneasy or is stopping you from ever coming to see us, safe, easy sedation is something you should consider.
What is Sedation Dentistry
If you come in for sedation dentistry, we will go over your options for sedation and pick the option right for you.
Once you’re at the chosen level of sedation, your dentist will begin your procedure and you’ll return to full consciousness with the whole thing behind you. Sedation dentistry allows you to experience dental work without seeing, hearing or feeling whatever is happening inside your mouth. At higher levels of sedation, you can even walk out of the office with no memory whatsoever of the procedure.
Another perk of sedation dentistry is that it allows procedures that would normally take several visits, to be performed all at once. Even something that might take hours will only feel like it lasts a matter of minutes when you’re under dental sedation. For a trusted sedation dentist in Holmdel NJ, contact Advanced Dental of Holmdel.
How to Prepare for IV Sedation
Because you will forfeit some of your mental faculties, you will need to prepare more for IV sedation than you do for a typical dental appointment. Here’s what you can expect before, during, and after your IV sedation:
Before
Your dentist will provide explicit instructions before your appointment. Usually, these involve recommendations to wear comfortable clothing, avoid eating or drinking 6-8 hours before sedation and stop taking certain medications (unless previously approved). You will need to provide a complete medical history and alert your dentist to any changes beforehand. Also, line up a driver to take you to the appointment and pick you up.
During
Once you make it to the dental chair, a dental professional will start an IV in your hand or arm. If you need any other medications — such as pain medicine, anti-inflammatories, or steroids — you will usually receive these through your IV, too. The dentist will monitor your pulse, breathing, and blood pressure throughout the procedure to watch for any adverse reactions. You should immediately feel relaxed and unaware of any sights, smells, or sounds.
After
After the procedure, you might feel slightly drowsy for several hours. Your driver will collect any post-procedure instructions from the dentist and take you home. You will need to clear your calendar for the next 24 hours and avoid strenuous activity, unapproved medications, alcohol, operating heavy machinery, or making major life decisions. Complications with sedation are rare but contact the dentist immediately if you suspect any problems.