Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Many people avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety. Sedation dentistry can help relieve the anxiety of going to the dentist so you can get the dental care you need to maintain good oral health. Here are the major benefits of sedation dentistry!

Patients who experience anxiety during dental procedures often avoid visiting the dentist for years, which leads to increased health risks and more extensive treatment needs when patients finally do seek dental care. There are several benefits of sedation dentistry that can help reduce patient anxiety and make the experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Anterograde Amnesia

Anterograde amnesia is a type of memory loss that occurs after a person undergoes procedures under conscious sedation. Patients remember the procedure and the discomfort but do not remember the events before or after the procedure. This type of amnesia can provide patients with needed relief from anxious thoughts before a procedure begins or during the procedure itself. When you undergo sedation dentistry, you will likely feel drowsy and groggy afterward. This is normal! Your anterograde amnesia may last for several hours after your appointment. That means you may forget part or all of your treatment, including details about your appointment itself. You’ll remember bits and pieces later, but you may not recall the conversation or what happened while you were sedated. Instead of worrying about that, you should remember that this is a good thing! It means you were relaxed and comfortable during your appointment. It also means you will most likely choose to return to your dentist for any future treatments.

Reduction in Gag Reflex

Patients who undergo sedation dentistry don’t have to worry about gagging during dental treatments. If you’ve felt embarrassed or uncomfortable in the past because of gagging, you’ll appreciate this benefit of sedation dentistry.

Talk to your dentist about how you can overcome your gag reflex and move forward with the necessary treatment. Although you may have anxiety about visiting the dentist, you shouldn’t let that interfere with your oral health care. A qualified professional can help!

Pain Relief

Pain management is another benefit of sedation dentistry. Dentists are able to administer local anesthetics to specific areas of the mouth and provide long-lasting pain relief without having to use opioid-based medications. This allows patients to undergo longer appointments without having to endure significant pain throughout the appointment.

With sedation dentistry, patients who typically avoid visiting the dentist can receive the treatment they need while feeling little to no pain.

The dentist Can Work Faster

When a patient is sedated, the dentist can work faster without the patient feeling any discomfort. This helps reduce the amount of time a patient spends in the chair and makes the appointment more relaxing for all. In addition to being painless, sedation dentistry also allows patients to not remember the procedure at all or only fragments of it. Sometimes, up to half of most procedures can already be completed before the patient is even awake!

To learn more, please schedule an appointment online or call us at (480) 838-8558 and have a consultation with Dr. Christopher Payne. We will be happy to help.