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During any discussion about major dental treatments the question of sedation frequently comes up. Though local anesthesia (Novocain) is generally sufficient for maintaining comfort during your procedure, this thought often concerns patients. Today we create a comfortable environment for our patients in several different ways. Among these are soothing décor, pillows, blankets, private music and videos. But we appreciate that some patients still feel some anxiety about sedation during their dental procedure. For this reason we as sedation dentistry experts offer a variety of sedation options to our patients.
When performing dental implant procedures it is normal to utilize one of several different sedation methods. The purpose of any sedation method is to ensure that the patient is physically and emotionally relaxed during the procedure. The three methods most frequently used are nitrous oxide sedation, oral sedation, and intravenous (I.V.) sedation.
Nitrous oxide is a gas that can be mixed with oxygen and inhaled for a mild degree of sedation. A nose piece is normally used to deliver this sedative. Dr. Wilhelm does not use this form of sedation in his practice because it does not work as well as the following methods.
Oral sedation can provide a higher degree of sedation than nitrous oxide. As the name implies this is a medication that is taken by mouth just prior to your dental appointment. A variety of medications including valium and halcion may be used for this purpose. The affect of oral sedatives can vary from patient to patient. For this reason the doctor will determine if this option is a good one for you. There is an amnesiac effect of these medications - which means that you probably won’t remember much about the procedure and will have a positive treatment experience.
Intravenous sedation allows the dentist to customize the level of sedation for each patient’s specific needs. This method utilizes intravenous medications to achieve the exact level of sedation needed to provide comfort for the patient. If the dental procedure is a lengthy one, intravenous sedation is especially helpful - because medication can be added as needed to maintain the patient’s comfort level. With the intravenous method most patients do not remember what happened during the procedure, and will have a comfortable overall experience.
No matter which type of sedation is used, it is common for local anesthesia to be used in addition to the sedation method utilized.
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