Sedation Dentistry Information
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry refers to the practice of calming and relaxing patients prior to and during dental appointments with the use of pharmacological agents. These agents are usually sedatives, which depress the central nervous system, specifically those areas concerned with conscious awareness.
The History of Sedation Dentistry
The use of sedation and general anesthesia has been an integral part of dental practice since the 1840s. It was the introduction of nitrous oxide by Horace Wells, a Hartford, Connecticut dentist, and the demonstration of anesthetic properties of ether by Wells’ student, William Morton, that served as the foundation for sleep sedation dentistry. From then onwards, dentists have continued to develop ways to reduce and ultimately eliminate the pain and anxiety that have always been associated with dental procedures.
Sedation Dentistry Procedures
There are two basic kinds of sedation used in sedation dentistry:
1. Unconscious sedation is most commonly referred to as 'general anesthesia and is usually administered in a hospital and by an anesthesiologist. Unconscious sedation causes the patient to become completely unconscious; the muscles stop working and the anesthesiologist has to use machines to breathe for the patient.
2. Conscous sedation on the other hand allows the patient to remain conscious and keep his or her ability to breathe unaided.
- IV sedation dentistry uses medications injected directly into the patient's bloodstream.
- Oral sedation dentistry is practiced by administering the sedative in the form of a pill or liquid that the patient can swallow.
- Inhalation sedation dentistry is practiced by having the patient breathe in nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.
The Pros and Cons of Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry has several benefits, both for dentists and patients. For patients, it can mean freedom from anxiety or fear during dental procedures. In cases where a patient has not been able to undergo dental treatment for many years because of this fear, sedation dentistry allows him to have several years' worth of dental treatment in just a few sessions.
For dentists, sedation dentistry facilitates the easy performance of dental procedures. Patients are likely to be more cooperative under the relaxing effects of sedation. Treatments can also be quicker, because a number of procedures can be performed in a single session.
The disadvantage of sedation dentistry is that it's not for everyone. Your answer to the following questions will determine if it is safe to administer sedation dentistry on you.
- What other medications are you currently taking?
- Do you have a history of allergic reaction to other medications?
- Do you have an extreme fear of dentists or dental procedures?
- Do you have a history of impaired judgment when under sedation?
- Do you have a fear of sedation itself?
Recent Developments in Sedation Dentistry
The use of minimal, moderate and deep sedation and general anesthesia in dentistry will be significantly affected by research findings and advances in these areas. The American Dental Association strongly supports the expansion of both basic and clinical research in anxiety and pain control. It urges institutions and agencies that fund and sponsor research to place a high priority on this type of research, which should include:
1. Epidemiological studies that provide data on the number of these procedures performed and on morbidity and mortality rates
2. Clinical studies of drug safety and efficacy
3. Basic research on the development of safer and more effective drugs and techniques
4. Studies on improving patient monitoring
5. Research on behavioral and other non-pharmacological approaches to anxiety and pain control
