Sedation Dentistry 101: The Basics

Sedation dentistry is used more often than one might think. Whether a dentist needs to calm a nervous child, treat an adult with a dental phobia or treat an adult with a medical condition that makes getting dental work difficult, sedation dentistry may be the answer. All sedation dentistry is, is the use of anesthesia during dental procedures.

When a person has dental procedures with sedation dentistry there are varying degrees of sedation used. For instance, a person with dental phobia may not be put to sleep, they may be given anesthesia that helps alleviate there anxiety. This may include gas like nitrous oxide or the use of oral sedatives like valium.

In other situations a cosmetic dentist may opt for a deeper state of sedation with his patients. This is common in people with medical conditions like Tourette’s syndrome and Parkinson's disease, or other conditions that make it difficult for a person to control their movements. In situations like this intravenous sedation is commonly preferred.

There are certain situations in which a person may not be considered a good candidate for sedation dentistry. For instance, most dentist prefer not to treat patients under the age of 18 unless absolutely necessary. If it is required patients are often referred to a pediatric sedation dentist. Additionally, certain medical conditions and certain medication may exclude someone as a candidate for sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry is more expensive than general dentistry. That said, most dental insurance companies will cover the procedure, they just won’t cover the anesthesia. Fortunately, most dentists who offer sedation dentistry also offer patient financing. This allows patients with dental phobia or other medical conditions to get the dental procedures they need. It is important to check with your dentist about financing and payment options rather than avoiding dental work out of concern for costs.

For more information on sedation dentistry as well as Invisalign®, dental implants, porcelain veneers, and more, we encourage you to visit our Abilene, Texas cosmetic dentistry office.