None of the sedation methods available today involve being putting the patient to sleep. Oral and IV sedation are sometimes referred to as sleep dentistry. Being put to sleep is termed general anaesthesia, or GA for short.
Severe dental phobiacs should often go for sedation. If you don’t want to be aware of what’s happening during a procedure, you may go for an IV (Intravenous) sedation. Laughing gas can give you a pleasant intoxicated feeling if you require some little help to relax.
If you are afraid of needles, extractions and especially if the fear would not go away in the presence of an empathetic dentist and pain-killer help and if you have other mental health issues and you feel you would benefit from sedation, then again you can go for sedation.
Sedation would not be a good option for people who are terrified of dentists or if they fear of being deliberately harmed during the process. If you think you would benefit from a gentle approach which might involve being talked through procedures, going at your pace and using stop signals.
You might have your dental fears on one hand and your need to control on the other. Sedation will better eliminate your anxiety on discomfort or pain from the dental procedures. If you think you want to be in control of the procedure, then the sleep dentistry may be a hindrance rather than a help. Going for inhalation sedation (laughing gas) can be considered if you don’t like the idea of loss of memory of the procedure and if some sense of control is important to you. You and your dentist should discuss if the procedure would be distressing or uncomfortable for you. Talking to people who have had the same experience would bring you more confidence of facing it. And it may be helpful to have a close friend or a family member present next to you during the dental procedure. This setup will make dentist and the closest someone of yours relate valuable information during the procedure.
Sedation Techniques
Sedation can e administered in many different ways. But basically, there are 3 common forms of sedation.
01. Inhalation sedation (laughing gas, happy gas, nitrous, nitrous oxide)
02. Oral sedation (swallowing pills or a liquid)
03. Intravenous (IV) sedation (drugs injected into the bllood stream through a vein)
For some patients sedation offers a fantastic option, still it is not for everyone and it should not be forced on people. Of course, no answer goes with everyone. Some people agree to sedation even though they’d prefer not to be sedated since they tend to think that the dentist is going to be upset with them should they panic. They’re worried that they will make their dentist uncomfortable or will then get angry with them. Making an extra effort to find a calm and understanding dentist who has the ability to put you at ease would be a good idea, even if this means visiting more than one dentist to see whom you feel comfortable with.
Sedation is offered as a part of empathetic treatment, to patients who desire to know as little as possible of the procedure or who want to get things fixed in the least amount of time possible. Some dentists offer it because they lack the people skills needed to make frightened clients feel at ease.
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I totally agree with you. Many years ago, my sister wanted to make a smile makeover, she used to hate her smile since she was a child, what kept her back was her suffering dental phobia; she was so afraid to go to dentist to receive appropriate dental treatment. Until one day she heard about sedation dentistry. Her dentist told her that sedation dentistry is a technique used to make her in a relaxed and calm state while performing her dental procedures, he added that he would use oral sedation with her instead of IV sedation; so no needles were to be involved, she finally agreed. I was holding her hands while she was receiving her smile makeover procedures, the best thing that she was conscious and completely co-operative with her dentist during the entire visit. After we went back home (I was driving of course), she was swearing that her dental treatment lasted for few minutes only (it really lasted for several hours), she was happy she didn’t feel the puncture of needle of local anesthesia. Now, she is happy with her movie star smile. Indeed, it was a pleasant experience for both of us.