Sedation dentistry has helped many of our patients overcome their fear of dental treatment and attain the care they need. Whether you have high levels of stress or anxiety, sensitive teeth and gums, an overactive gag reflex, or a more general dental phobia, our sedation dentistry techniques can place you in a completely relaxed state for the duration of your visit. For patients who require extensive dental work, sedation dentistry can also often reduce the total number of office visits required to complete the treatment. Though the benefits are obvious, you may be wondering if there are any downsides to sedation dentistry.
Our experienced dentists always prioritize your safety and comfort, whether you are having a routine oral exam or undergoing a more complex procedure, such as dental implants. The sedation technique we use at Germantown Dental Group is called oral conscious sedation. By taking a small prescription pill before your office visit, you can feel completely relaxed before your procedure even begins. Although oral conscious sedation still allows patients to communicate clearly with the dentist, this needle-free form of sedation causes many patients to enter a somewhat sleep-like state. Consequently, some patients may not even remember their procedure after the medication wears off. As a safety precaution, a member of our dental team will monitor your vital signs throughout the duration of your procedure to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Patients will likely still feel drowsy after their dental work is complete, and a friend or family member will need to drive you to and from your visit. Some patients may also experience side effects such as a mild headache, lightheadedness, or dry-mouth; however, these effects should quickly disappear should they occur. To determine if you are a good candidate for sedation dentistry, our dentists will review your medical history as well as a list of your current medications to check for compatibility. We recommend patients who are obese or have been diagnosed with sleep apnea speak with their physician before undergoing sedation dentistry. With that in mind, most patients are good candidates for sedation dentistry and can use this technique to get the dental care they need to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.
If you would like to learn more about sedation dentistry, please contact Germantown Dental Group today and schedule an appointment.