For many millions of Americans visiting their dentist twice a year never is a concern for them; they never seem to have any issues with fear of the upcoming procedures. However, this cannot be said for every patient, there are also many patients who absolutely dread the thoughts of undergoing Colorado Springs dentistry, they experience a great deal of anxiety; a fear of the unknown. Regardless of which group you are in there are a number of ways that the dentist has available to him which he can use to expel the anxious feeling and dull any pain associated with the procedures; one increasingly popular method is employ sedatives.
Only in the most extreme cases is general anesthesia used where you are put into a deep sleep, awakening with no memory whatsoever of the procedure; conscious sedation is enough to put the greatest majority of anxious patients at ease. The dentist has two levels of sedation that he can turn to:
* Light sedation: The most common form of sedation is either through oral medication which promotes relaxation or the use of nitrous oxide, often called “laughing gas.” When patients are subjected to light sedation they have the tendency to simply remain calm throughout their time in the dental chair. This form of sedation is also of great help to the dentist as the patient is still awake and can respond to any directions or demands that dentist might give. While sedated the patient may experience a slight loss in their motor skills but within minutes the patient completely recovers, remembering that they had Colorado Springs dentistry procedures but not recalling any sensation of unease or pain.
* Moderate sedation: If the dentist feels that the patient needs deeper sedation he or she can be given more powerful oral sedative such as Triazolam or some equivalent. The patient has all the same benefits of light sedation but does not remember any details whatsoever of the appointment. The dentist will often turn to moderate sedation if he senses the patient is extremely nervous or if the patient is set to have a considerable amount of dental work done in one appointment.
Every patient can benefit from sedation dentistry, it is not only something that is useful for patients who have a fear of dentists; patients who are about to be subjected to Colorado Springs dentistry treatments such as the removal of wisdom teeth or root canals can benefit as well.
Many people have a fear of the dentist; if you are one of them there are Colorado Springs dentistry sedatives that can relax you during your procedure. Dr. Marc R. Van Ness at Lehman Drive Dental uses both light and moderate sedation to give you peace of mind and a comfortable dental experience.
