NO PAIN, BUT ALL GAIN!

Sedation dentistry is a quick and effective solution to your dental nightmares. If you are anxiety-ridden over a forthcoming treatment consider the following options

Not entertained by the idea of a visit to the dentist? Rather have those germs grow a colony around a couple of teeth? Rotting gums are better than root canal! After all, dentistry is nothing but dental butchery.

It is true that most dental operations or treatments cause much pain. Much unbearable pain. Children dread them, adults avoid them. There are some who are petrified at the thought of the dentist’s chair. But as with everything else, this problem too comes now with a solution. Heard of sedation or relaxation dentistry? Well we now have something to literally alleviate our fears and pain, administered specially by qualified or certified doctors in sedation dentistry.

In simple terms, sedation dentistry refers to the administering of pharmacological agents such as sedatives to relax patients who suffer from extreme anxiety or fear under a dentist’s knife. There are three levels of sedation – minimal, moderate and deep.

Qualifying for sedatives

Sedation is generally to be administered for severe dental phobia. But since there is no one definition for ‘severe’ it really depends on the doctor’s evaluation and the patient’s health condition and needs.

You can consider sedatives during a dental operation and treatment if:

• You find yourself consumed by dental anxiety
• Your teeth are too sensitive
• You know your threshold for pain is low.
• It is difficult to get numb
• You suffer from complex dental problems
• You suffer from particular phobias such as fear of needles
• You have no time for this operation but must get it out of the way
• You have difficulty controlling your movements, and especially if you suffer from cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s disease.
• You are not interested at all in knowing the ins and outs of your treatment.
• You want to get a lot of things done in one go

What suits you best?

The level and type of dental sedation you require will be decided by your doctor/dentist. Whether you will be administered moderate sedation with nitrous oxide or deeper sedation with intravenous drugs is something that is dependent on a number of assessments. If you are confident that some or all of the reasons cited above applies to you then ask your dentist for a sedated session. If you are 18 and above and you meet all the fitness criteria then sedation may be given to you in any of the following forms.

Techniques and degrees of sedation

There are different degrees of sedation complemented by different techniques.

• Oral conscious sedation: Medicine like diazepam may be given. Depending on the level of anxiety the dentist may prescribe such a sedative to be taken an hour before the operation or the night before. Although this is a mild form of sedation, it is advisable not to drive for the next 24 hours. Oral sedation is not a pain relief. Therefore a pain killer is also administered along with it.
• Inhalation conscious sedation: Nitrous oxide gas or laughing gas is inhaled to induce a state of relaxation. Again, anxiolysis this level of sedation does not act as a pain killer and local anesthesia is usually administered to the patient. However, as it is a mild to moderate form of sedation recovery is quick and no prolonged break is required after the operation. You may jump right back to work post treatment.
• Intravenous conscious sedation: This method is used for moderate to more severe levels of anxiety. The drug is induced intravenously. Unlike oral dosages, this is more effective but a highly safe way to go about a treatment if you are phobic of dental procedures or dentists. The drug is highly effective in that it induces amnesia. Remember you will have no memory of the treatment even though you will be awake for most part and not asleep. Sedation dentists who employ IV conscious sedation are certified doctors who have received specialised training. You must check if your dentist is certified to administer intravenous sedation. Monitoring devices are usually attached to the patient to keep a tab on breathing, blood pressure and heart rate. Ensure that you have an escort too see you back home once the treatment is over.
• General anesthesia: General anesthesia is used to render the patient completely unconscious. The patient has no awareness of his/her surroundings. Usually a specialised doctor is brought in to administer the required dosage, usually this person will be a nurse anesthetist or medical anesthetisiologist.

 
When do you not qualify for sedation dentistry?

It is imperative that you notify the dentist of all your health issues. If you are on some sort of medication then intimate the doctor of this. The dentist will then assess your health records to come to a decision about the level and kind of sedation you need.

What you should also consider

Although sedation dentistry treatment can be convenient for both doctors and patients, there are certain points you need to keep in mind and see if you have issues with these.

• If you do want to fix this phobia.
• You don’t approve of sedative drugs. Of course, then you have to work this out with your doctor.
• If you believe you should be in charge of everything, then ‘letting go’ is something you might regret later on. If you need to know what’s happening to your body then it’s best to not go in for this kind of treatment.
• You have had previous history of sexual/physical/mental abuse in this kind of a setting.
• Research suggests that behavioral modification is more effect than the aid of pharmacological drugs.
• You really need to drive to and fro from the dentist’s. It is advisable that you don’t opt for this treatment if you don’t find a friend or a family member to be with you.
• You could choose to undergo treatment with a person who is a good doctor as well as a good friend of yours; someone who is aware of your fears and weaknesses and who will take the time to make you feel comfortable and talk you through it.