Rose City Dental Blog
Everything You Should Know About Sedation Dentistry in Portland, OR
Sometimes people feel nervous when they come to the dentist. They often feel this way because they have a significant or serious procedure scheduled that day.
However, in some cases, patients have a condition called dental anxiety. With this condition, the sights, sounds, and sensations in the dental office make them feel uncomfortable. But because these people know how much dental cleanings and checkups matter, they put up with their discomfort to ensure their mouths stay healthy.
You shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable or anxious when you visit the dentist. To help you feel at ease, many dentists offer sedation dentistry. Sedation involves taking medications that calm your body's fear response and help you feel relaxed. You can take this medication using three different methods.
Sedation Dentistry Methods
1. Oral Sedation
Most patients prefer oral sedation because this method doesn't involve cumbersome devices or needles. Instead, you simply take a pill like Valium or Halcion an hour before your appointment, and then you wait for the effects to kick in.
Once the medication's effects manifest, you'll feel drowsy and tranquil. The stimuli around you shouldn't bother you, even if they normally make you feel anxious. Additionally, depending on the dosage you take, you may even fall asleep during your dental appointment. You won't have to see, hear, or feel anything that happens during your cleaning or other procedure.
However, if you don't feel comfortable sleeping in the dental chair, let your dentist know. He or she can gently waken you without much trouble.
2. Inhaled Sedation
If you choose the inhaled option, your dentist will place a small mask over your nose. The mask attaches to tubes that supply nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, and oxygen. The laughing gas doesn't make you laugh, but it does help you feel more relaxed.
However, since nitrous oxide quickly wears off, you have to wear the mask over your nose throughout the procedure. If you don't like having anything on your face, or if you feel claustrophobic, you might want to choose a different sedation method instead.
3. IV Sedation
This type of sedation works more quickly than the other two methods on this list—but it does so because it enters your system through an IV. Your dentist inserts the IV using a needle, and then the IV supplies powerful sedatives that induce deep relaxation or even unconsciousness. Most patients report that they completely forget the procedure even if they don't fall asleep.
IV sedation works well if you have oral surgery or another significant procedure planned. But if you don't like needles or you don't feel comfortable with being unaware during the procedure, you should choose a different method, like oral sedation, instead.
Considerations and Warnings
Regardless of which sedation method you choose, you still have to take a few precautions. All sedatives help you feel relaxed, but that relaxed state also decreases your balance, reflexes, and reaction time. It also reduces your ability to recognize dangerous situations.
For these reasons, you should not walk or drive home by yourself after the procedure. Rather, you should arrange for someone else to drive. Or, if you live close enough to walk home, have a loved one hold your hand and help you navigate obstacles.
Additionally, you should avoid going to work or participating in any physical activities until the sedation's effects wear off. The effects could take as little as an hour to dissipate, or they could take a day, depending on the dosage. Rest and recuperate in the meantime.
If you have any additional questions about sedation's duration, effects, and more, talk to your dentist. He or she can help you choose a method and create a plan that helps you feel more comfortable during your next appointment.
Tips to Help Your Child Love the Dentist
As a parent, it can be hard to get your children to the dentist. Many children fear dentists for a variety of reasons. Maybe they fear a new situation or doctor, or they feel anxious about getting hurt during a checkup. Luckily, you can do a few things help your kids feel more at ease about the dentist. Use the following tips to make dental visits stress-free.
Role Play
If your children hate the dentist simply because he or she is a novelty, they're not alone. Children often have difficulty feeling comfortable in a dental office when they only see the dentist twice a year.
Diffuse the situation by making dentists commonplace. During playtime, play dentist. Let your children be the dentist and then the patient. Act out the entire dental visit, from checking in with a receptionist, to getting their teeth cleaned, to a dental checkup. If possible, find some play dental tools and costumes so your children can get used to the idea of scrubs, masks, and tools near their mouth.
Make Brushing Teeth Fun
At night, play this game to make dental health fun. When it's time to brush teeth, invite your children to "come to the dentist" and have a "checkup". Act like a dentist by having them open up wide and looking in their mouth. If they're really little, brush their teeth for them and help them practice flossing.
Getting in the habit of brushing teeth early on shows your kids that dental health matters. Plus, because they're familiar with you, when you take on the role of dentist, the whole idea becomes less scary to them. They'll feel more prepared to face an actual dentist when the time comes.
Talk About the Dentist
Whenever you have a dental appointment for yourself, talk it up. Tell your children you have an appointment with a dentist next week and you want to work extra hard to keep your teeth clean and flossed. This is a perfect situation for your children to ask questions without having to worry about their own upcoming appointments.
If possible, bring your children with you to the office so they can see what goes on there. Again, being slightly removed from the situation will help them learn about dentists in a comfortable way.
Choose Your Dentist Wisely
You don't have to go it alone. Lots of dental offices realize that kids can feel hesitant, so they work to alleviate worries. Choose a pediatric dental office that has kid-friendly amenities, like an inviting waiting room, kid-themed dental equipment, and extra supportive staff.
An Inviting Waiting Room: Your ideal pediatric dentist will have a waiting room stocked with toys, comfy child-sized chairs, possibly a movie playing, or even a small play slide. Your children will spend their waiting time playing instead of worrying about their upcoming procedure.
Kid-Themed Dental Supplies: It may be small, but fun things like silly toothbrushes and wacky flavored toothpaste go a long way. Your kids will look forward to getting a new flavor of toothpaste every time they come to the dentist.
Extra-Supportive Staff: Pediatric dentists are trained for an extra 2 to 3 years to work with children. They interact with more understanding and patience when dealing with younger children. Let's face it-not all people work well with children, but pediatric dentists and the nurses that choose to go into this field typically do.
Read Dentist Books
The last thing you can do to prepare children for the dentist is to read books about dentists. A ton of books explain how dental procedures work, what to expect when you visit, and how to take care of your teeth. The pictures in the books help children visualize themselves going to the dentist. If all else has failed, turn to these books to prepare your children.
