The most recent CDC study shows that almost one in three (31.6%) US adults have untreated dental cavities. That’s an increase of 6.5% from the last time (2005 to 2008) the agency conducted the study!
The thing is, foregoing treatment of tooth decay often results in tooth loss. Unfortunately, such is the case for at least 178 million people in the US now missing at least one tooth.
For many of these people, dental anxiety is the main reason they forego treatment.
Sounds familiar? If so, then know that sedation dentistry can help ease your dental worries.
Ready to learn how exactly this type of dentistry can help you when it comes to dental treatments? Then keep reading, as that’s exactly what you’ll find out in this post!
Anxiety and Fear of the Dentist: What Are They?
Anxiety is a natural response of the body toward stress. It can be a feeling of apprehension or fear about something that hasn’t happened yet. It’s one of the ways that your brain alerts and prepares you for potential harm or danger.
With that said, dental anxiety refers to a feeling of unease about anything related to a dentist. For some people, these feelings can already arise when they think of going to the dentist. Others feel apprehensive when they imagine themselves sitting in a dental chair.
By contrast, dental fear or phobia is a much more intense fear of anything dentist-related. People who experience this exhibit more powerful symptoms. Some of them can feel so anxious that they end up having panic attacks.
Anxiety or fear of the dentist can also occur in conjunction with an existing phobia. In the US, an estimated 12.5% of people experience these intense fears at some point in their lives.
In many cases, dental anxiety or fear can occur in people who have a fear of needles or “aichmophobia.” In others, it can be due to a fear of blood, or “hematophobia.” Others may also have both dental anxiety or fear and fear of injury, or “traumatophobia.”
How Prevalent Is Dental Anxiety or Fear?
According to one study, about 80% of Americans experience some form of dental anxiety. Of these individuals, between 5% and 14% suffer from “intense” dental anxiety. Because of this, many of them end up either canceling or avoiding visits to the dentist.
Sedation Dentistry to the Rescue
Sedation dentistry is a specialized type of dental service that uses sedatives. These are medications that reduce excitement or irritability. As a result, they induce calmness and relaxation, or in many other cases, sleep.
It’s because of this that some people refer to sedation dentistry as “sleep dentistry.” While certain sedatives do cause a person to fall asleep, many others only make them feel relaxed. Dental patients remain awake, but the medications help them feel numb, so they feel calmer.
Who Can Administer Sedation for Dental Procedures?
Only dentists who’ve undergone specific sedation training can practice sedation dentistry. The level of sedation they can provide depends on the training they’ve completed. They must also have current certification for Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers.
Aside from the above, dentists must also comply with laws set by the state they practice in. The statutory requirements are even more stringent for dentists who administer general anesthesia.
In Arkansas, for instance, a dentist must have a team of three to provide general anesthesia. There must be at least two other healthcare professionals in the dental office.
These regulations help ensure that patients who get sedated or anesthetized remain safe. Sedation and anesthesia, after all, require a high level of knowledge and skills. As such, be sure to choose a dentist who meets all these requirements.
Methods of Delivery
Some people think that sedation dentistry always involves needles or gas inhalation. According to Boisedentist.com, though, patients are no longer limited to such options.
Instead of getting an injection, you can simply take a pill and wait for it to take effect. This makes it an ideal option if you also have a fear of needles or wounds.
Levels of Sedation
The exact method of delivery still depends on how much sedative you need. If you only require something to help you relax, then a pill may be enough. If not, you may have to take an oral sedative along with nitrous oxide/oxygen.
It also depends on the exact dental procedure you’re getting.
On that note, let’s take a look at some of the most common levels of sedation that dentists often administer.
Minimal Sedation
This is the kind of oral sedation dentistry that relaxes you but keeps you awake. The medication makes you feel calm enough to slow down your breathing and heart rate.
In most people, an oral sedative (pill) alone already does the trick. However, be sure to tell your dentist if it doesn’t seem to be enough. This way, your oral healthcare provider may supplement it with nitrous oxide.
Moderate Sedation
Moderate sedation can help those who feel really anxious in a dentist’s chair. It makes use of a sedative that’s more potent than those used in minimal sedation. You’ll feel sleepy, and you may become unconscious at some point, but you’ll still be responsive.
Since the sedative will make you feel more sleepy than relaxed, you may forget parts of the procedure.
Because of this, moderate sedation may be a better choice for longer treatments. These include deep cleaning, cavity filling, as well as scaling and planing. It’s also an ideal option for more complicated procedures, such as root canals.
As for administration, it can also be through an oral sedative. If the pill isn’t enough, you may also need nitrous oxide. If you still feel anxious, the dentist may have to rely on IV sedation dentistry.
A Quick Overview of IV Sedation Dentistry
IV sedation dentistry involves the use of a very thin needle inserted into a vein. The vein can either be on the arm or the hand.
The needle itself connects to an intravenous tube that supplies the sedative. Since the sedative goes straight into the bloodstream, the medication works faster.
If you feel worried about the needle prick, be sure to let your oral healthcare provider know. This way, your dentist will use a numbing cream before inserting the IV into your arm or hand.
Note that in many cases, the IV needle remains in the patient throughout the entire procedure. However, some people may be unable to for other health or medical reasons. As such, the dentist will take the needle out at some point before the treatment ends.
Deep Sedation
In the case of deep sedation, you’ll be on the edge of consciousness. You’ll fall asleep, but the dentist can still wake you up with stimulation. Since you’ll sleep through the procedure, you’re most likely to have no memory of it.
Patients who opt for deep sedation are those who experience a more intense dental fear. This is especially true for those who need to have a tooth extracted or get a complex root canal surgery. If you require any of these procedures, be sure to talk to your dentist about deep sedation.
Deep sedation often requires administration through nitrous oxide or IV. Also, depending on how your breathing goes, the dentist may need to give you oxygen at some point.
General Anesthesia
This is the most powerful of all sedation methods, as it utilizes general anesthesia. General anesthesia is a combination of medications that will make you completely unconscious. The administration is often through inhaled gases and an IV line.
Under general anesthesia, you won’t feel any pain throughout the procedure. Your brain also won’t respond to discomfort and pain, so any part of the treatment won’t rouse you. Since you’ve lost consciousness, you won’t remember anything that took place.
As such, general anesthesia is an option if you have severe dental anxiety or phobia. If you feel terrified about going to the dentist, you may want to consider this method.
The use of general anesthesia is also common in most major dental procedures. These include complex cases of gum grafts, wisdom tooth extraction, and dental implantation.
Note that general anesthesia stays far longer in the bloodstream, though. This means that you’ll still feel its effects hours after the completion of the procedure. If you’re going with this method, you’d need someone to accompany you and take you home.
Don’t Let Dental Anxiety Keep You From Achieving Optimal Oral Health
Sedation dentistry isn’t for everyone, but it can be a huge help for those with dental anxiety or fear. It can also help ease your worries if you have high sensitivity to discomfort or pain. With controlled sedation, you can finally undergo all those must-have dental treatments.
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