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Sedation Dentistry in Loris, SC

A great many people experience anxiety in relation to undergoing dental work or to visiting the dentist at all, a fear known as dental phobia. Unfortunately, such fear keeps too many individuals from getting regular dental care, compromising not only their dental health and appearance, but often their overall health as well. In almost every case of dental phobia, sedation dentistry, in which the patient‘s anxiety is totally relieved by the use of medication, is the solution.

dentist puts inhalation sedative mask on his patient. Sedation dentistry

Reasons for Sedation Dentistry

In addition to being very helpful to patients who experience dental phobia, sedation dentistry in useful for patients who:

  • Gag easily
  • Have difficulty sitting still
  • Have sensitive teeth or gums
  • Require a large amount of dental work
  • Have a low threshold for pain

During sedation dentistry, varying degrees of sedation may be used, depending on the needs of the patient and the type of dental procedure being performed.

Patient Testimonial

"I was on vacation in Myrtle Beach and I broke a tooth which caused me to have severe pain and discomfort. I called Carolina Dentistry and they were able to schedule my appointment the same day. They were incredibly welcoming and very patient with me as I have a fear of the dentist. I cannot begin to tell you how much they helped me."

- Anonymous

Levels of Sedation

The point of sedation dentistry is to provide peace of mind to the patient undergoing treatment. In most cases, it does not involve anesthesia, but simply puts the patient into a very relaxed state. Because in most cases the patient is still awake to a degree, a local anesthetic must still be employed to deaden any anticipated pain. In anxious patients, sedation is administered prior to the anesthetic so the patient won't have heightened anxiety about the injection.

Sedation for dental patients may be administered in a number of ways, depending on the procedure being performed and on the physical and emotional needs of the patient.

Inhaled Minimal Sedation

One way of administering sedation is by having the patient breath in nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") through a mask placed over the nose. Although the nitrous oxide will definitely put the patient into a relaxed state, the gas wears off quickly. For this reason, adult patients who have been treated with nitrous oxide are able to drive themselves home from the procedure. Nitrous oxide is sometimes used as a safe alternative on children who are phobic or uncooperative about dental treatment. Patients under minimal sedation are groggy and slur their speech, but can be easily roused.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is the most common type used in sedation dentistry. It ranges from minimal to moderate and is administered in pill form. When only minimal sedation is required, the patient is usually given a Halcion tablet, a medication similar to Valium, which takes full effect in approximately one hour. Once the pill takes effect, the patient becomes drowsy, but is still awake. When a slightly greater degree of sedation is required, the patient is administered a somewhat larger, or moderate, dose of the medication.

With the moderate dose of this medication, most patients remain fully asleep, although they can be awakened with minimal effort. Children are sometimes given a mild dose of oral medication which is carefully administered according to the child's age and weight.

 

Sedation dentistry is very helpful for patients who experience discomfort and anxiety about visiting the dentist. Whichever type of sedation they receive enables them to feel comfortable in the dentist's chair, even when undergoing lengthy or complicated procedures. As a matter of fact, patients under sedation frequently experience the sensation that a prolonged procedure has only last a minute or two. Sedation dentistry also has the advantage of allowing the dentist to perform a great deal of work during only a few sessions because the patient is comfortably at rest.

Schedule a Sedation Dentistry Appointment Today

To learn more about Sedation Dentistry or our other dental services, call 843-756-2273 to schedule a Loris SC sedation dentistry consultation at our office in Loris, SC. Our skilled dentists and talented team proudly serve patients in Loris, Tabor City, Myrtle Beach, Marion, Conway and the surrounding areas in South Carolina.

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