Sedation Dentistry – Is it Safe?

Many people develop serious oral and dental problems because fear has kept them seeing the dentist. For those who fear the dentist’s chair, sedation dentistry can be great news. While sedation dentistry seems an obvious solution for Tampa patients with severe dental anxiety, the idea of receiving sedation medications can also be frightening.

The best way to feel confident about sedation dentistry is to first, understand how it works, and second, to see a dentist who specializes in dental sedation.

There are different options available for sedation dentistry, which fall into two basic categories, based upon how the medication is administered:

Oral Sedation Dentistry – includes nitrous oxide or oral medication to keep the patient comfortable and pain-free while they are still awake

IV Sedation Dentistry –the patient is given medications through an IV line, and the effects tend to be deeper and more instantaneous

While there is always some risk associated with receiving anesthesia, the chances for adverse effects are greatly reduced when it is administered by an experienced and skilled sedation dentist. An knowledgeable sedation dentist will also know how to identify who will or will not be a good candidate for sedation dentistry, due to health factors like sleep disorders or other issues.

If you are considering sedation dentistry, but have concerns, you should talk to an experienced Tampa sedation dentist. Discuss your medical history, and make sure the dentist is aware of all medications you are currently using. Ask questions about how experienced the dentist is with oral sedation and IV sedation, and make sure your dentist uses the safest practices and procedures.

Let sedation dentistry help you experience optimal health and your best smile! Contact us for a stress-free appointment.