Dental Sedation | Dental Treatment Guide


Dentistry is an integral part of your personal wellbeing. Healthy teeth are better looking and can improve your general health. Problems such as decay and staining of the teeth can be unsightly and lead to further health problems.

A dentist can perform a wide variety of procedures to enhance or maintain the health and appearance of your teeth. However, some procedures can be painful and many people have a fear of dentists or dentistry. If you consider the nature of dentistry, it is not surprising that you might feel nervous or fearful of dental procedures. Dental procedures most often take place within your mouth, which is a sensitive area and one which is vital to your survival.

There are many ways of dealing with the fear, anxiety or pain which may be associated with dentistry. One measure which can be taken is sedation. Sedation refers to the reduction of sensation (how much you can feel), which is caused by a form of drug being introduced into your body. This causes a reaction in the brain which limits the amount of pain or irritation which it feels from the area where a procedure is taking place.

Dental sedation is beneficial for both patients and dentists. You will feel more relaxed while sedated, your fears will be less apparent and you will find the experience less painful. Your dentist will also benefit from having a more relaxed patient, and they will be able to work more effectively. It is hard to undergo dental procedures when you are nervous or in pain, and it is just as hard to perform dentistry when a practitioner feels that they may be causing their patient stress or discomfort. Sedation has the effect of improving not only your experience as a patient, but also easing the tension of the overall procedure.

There are different types of sedation which are used by dentists. Some forms of sedation are more suitable and effective with different procedures. Another deciding factor in the choice of sedation is which you would rather have administered to you. There may be one form of sedation which you would prefer based on your own experience, or which sounds more suitable. As with any other form of healthcare, it is important that you are comfortable with how your treatment is carried out.

Many people would opt for sedation in exchange for other methods for combating anxiety or pain during procedures because they believe that it will be more comfortable. The name 'sedation' carries with it ideas of sleep, relaxation and calm. While sedation will not necessarily cause you to lose consciousness, it does have a relaxing effect. One of the alternatives to dental sedation is a local anaesthetic. This involves an injection, which can be problematic as many people have a phobia of needles. Under sedation, you can relax and allow your dentist to work at what they are best at, without worrying unnecessarily.

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