The Top 5 Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry is a great way to ensure you can get the care you need at the dentist’s office while helping to overcome those anxieties and fears that keep you away. For many people, dental anxiety and phobia are incredibly common, and feelings of fear or discomfort have them avoiding any type of dental care. But what if that didn’t have to be the case? If you’ve found yourself in this category, like nearly 40% of the world around you, there are options to help you. 

In this guide, we share the top benefits of using sedation dentistry to help you better understand this valuable resource for your dental care needs. 

1. Alleviate Dental Fear and Anxiety

Perhaps one of the top benefits of using sedation at the dentist’s office is the fact that it will help alleviate dental fear and anxiety. Whether you have a reason for your anxiety or it is unexplainable, it’s nice to have a solution that can help you cope with those feelings while you seek the treatment you need. 

Sedation is designed to make patients feel calm, and some options can even make them feel euphoric. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is notorious for this and is one of the most used sedation solutions out there. In addition to nitrous oxide, there are alternative forms of sedation as well. They each provide unique levels of sedation but they all have one thing in common – keeping you calm and relaxed. 

Your provider will work closely with you to assess your needs and determine the best choice for sedation based on those needs and your procedures. 

2. Reduce or Eliminate Pain and Discomfort

Some people use sedation because they are highly sensitive to work being done in their mouths. To be honest, patients who experience fear and anxiety often do so because of worries about pain, or because of sensitivity that makes procedures painful. 

From minor procedures to extensive procedures, sedation solutions can help to reduce discomfort and will typically eliminate pain as well throughout the procedure. The sedation options paired with any type of local anesthesia or numbing treatments will help you stay relaxed, and you won’t feel pain or be aware of those normal pain signals that can make procedures challenging. 

For this category, sedation might be beneficial if you: 

• Have sensitive teeth or gums
• Need to go through lengthy or invasive procedures
• Struggle to sit still for appointments
• Fear physical discomfort
• Have a medical condition that prevents cooperation

3. Faster and More Efficient Dental Treatment

You get frustrated with yourself for struggling with fear and anxiety. Even the most patient and understanding of dentists can get frustrated when they cannot get you to cooperate. But sedation isn’t necessarily about your cooperation. It’s about giving you that calm and relaxed state. This way, your provider can focus on doing what they need to do. They want to help you, and they would much rather you be calm while they do. 

Patients who are anxious, fidgety, or uncooperative make getting through treatments and procedures very difficult for everyone. The dentist has to work more slowly and may not be able to complete the entire treatment. However, with sedation, the patient is still, relaxed, and calm. This allows the dentist to take care of their needs and to do so far more efficiently and quickly. 

4. Assist Struggles with Strong Gag Reflexes or Sensitivity

If you’re a patient who is highly sensitive when your teeth and gums are touched or perhaps starts to gag at the slightest intrusion into your mouth, sedation can help. Strong gag reflexes make even simple dental cleanings very challenging and leave you feeling uncomfortable throughout the experience. If you don’t like the feel of dental instruments in your mouth, struggle to control gagging, or even experience difficulty breathing, sedation can help. 

Sedation will relax the muscles and help to suppress that overactive gag reflex, too. It can be incredibly useful for patients who have sensitive teeth and gums and heightened oral sensitivity. It will help keep you comfortable throughout your entire visit. 

5. Supports Extensive or Complex Dental Work

Even if you do not have anxiety or phobia challenges, undergoing complex and extensive procedures is often daunting. Sedation allows your provider to offer lengthy and complex solutions when they are needed. They ensure you are calm, comfortable, and relaxed for those procedures. 

Here are some examples: 

• Wisdom tooth extraction
• Oral surgeries
• Full mouth restoration
• Dental implants
• Periodontal treatments

These are just a few examples of more complex dental work. 

Consider Sedation Dentistry with Smith Dental Care

At Smith Dental Care, we care deeply about ensuring our patients are comfortable and relaxed. This helps them with access to valuable dental treatment they need. We offer multiple sedation solutions whether you have anxiety about the dentist or need a complex procedure taken care of. Our office is trained and experienced to offer you valuable support and compassionate care. 

Contact us today to schedule your appointment.