Sedation Dentistry St Petersburg

Sedation dentistry, commonly referred to as “relaxation dentistry” is helping millions of American’s overcome their fears and anxieties surrounding visiting a Dentist. Sedation dentistry helps patients relax and brings them into a calm and stress free state through the use of pharmacological agents known as Sedatives. The sedatives such as nitrous oxide gas work by depressing the central nervous system, specifically the area associated with consciousness. There are three levels of sedation typically available by a certified dentist and range from mild sedation, where the patient is aware of their surroundings and able to respond to external stimuli, to deep sedation, to the point where a patient is totally unconscious. Most dentist offer these three levels so that they can appeal to everyone and their specific needs. Some people only need mild sedation to take the edge off while others prefer to ’sleep’ through their procedures (many patients end up having no recollection of the procedure and simply remember waking up at home the next day). Through the use of sedation dentistry in St Petersburg, patients are able to undertake complex procedures such as smile makeovers in fewer visits than traditionally possible.

The two main types of Sedation Dentistry

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is typically achieved through the oral ingestion of a pill or two. Some dentist even offer strips to be dissolved underneath the tongue which results in a faster response to the medication. Oral sedation will leave you sedated for at least a few hours after the procedure so you will need to schedule to have a someone give you a ride to and from your dentist office. Most dentist prescribe the medication prior to the appointment so that you can take one the night before to enjoy a great nights sleep and one the morning of your appointment. Patients commonly have little to no recognition of the procedure taking place which makes this ideal for people who have fears, phobias and bad past experiences with the dentist. Sedation dentistry allows individuals who may have been putting off going to the dentist for years, sometimes even decades, to enjoy the bright smile they deserve. Oral sedation is very effective for procedures such as porcelain crowns, veneers and dental implants.

IV Sedation (Intravenous)

IV sedation is achieved through injected medication directly into the bloodstream through the veins in either the arm or hand. As orally administered sedation becomes more and more popular many people decide to opt for the needless approach but IV sedation still has it’s place. IV sedation is extremely effective with patients that have moderate to severe fear of a dentist. The recovery time is very short and IV sedation can make visits that last hours feel like minutes. It is very effective for implant and oral surgery as well as smile restorations and longer procedures such as dental reconstruction. IV sedation is beneficial over oral sedation in the respect that analgesics (painkillers) can be administered directly through the IV and the level of sedation can be adjusted to met current circumstances.  Only a Board Certified Sedation Dentist can offer you this service of being able to go deeper and deeper should you require.

Be sure to consult with your dentist about which option will suit you and your needs the best.

So who is sedation dentistry for?

★ People who experience stress when visiting the dentist

★ People who have fears or phobia’s about dentist

★ Patients who need dental surgery or dental implants

★ People who have had prior traumatic experiences while visiting a dentist

★ People who are afraid of needles going into their mouths

★ Patients who require complex or intensive dental procedures

★ People who are subconscious or embarrassed about their smiles

★ People who have a strong gag reflex

★ Patients who need longer dental visits for procedures such as smile makeovers

★ People who don’t like anesthetics such as Novocain (or are immune to them)

★ Patients who need complex major dentistry work done

★ People who wish to shorten the number of visits required of them

★ Anyone that would prefer to not remember going to the dentist

But how do you find the best sedation dentist in St Petersburg?

Obviously any dentist in you see needs to be Board Certified