Sedation is useful because it involves administering medication that is formulated to target GABA receptors in the brain. These receptors release chemicals that produce intense feelings of worry, fear, and nervousness. By targeting these receptors, sedative medication will help patients feel relaxed and calm – even if they struggle with debilitating phobias and fears. Following is some helpful information on sedation.
Types of Sedation
There are different types and levels of sedation. For instance, anxious patients receiving less invasive treatments may benefit from receiving nitrous oxide gas. Nitrous oxide is used in dental and medical settings as a mild analgesic and sedative. It is inhaled through a soft nasal mask. This type of sedation’s effects comes on quickly and when the mask is removed, its effects dissipate quite rapidly. A sedation dentist might use nitrous oxide to place a filling.
Oral sedation, another type, involves patients taking prescribed medication in tablet form. This medication normally comes from a specific class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Common brand names of this medication include Valium and Klonopin. Oral sedation can take up to an hour for its full effects to be noticeable. This medication has a relatively long half-life so patients are advised not to drive while on this medication. Oral sedation is useful for receiving dental implants or oral pathology services.
The strongest form of sedation is delivered intravenously. IV sedation is reserved for invasive treatments like wisdom teeth removal, jaw surgery, and dental implants placement. Intravenous sedation normally involves a combination of pain-relieving medication and sedating drugs so that patients are free of discomfort and anxiety. Most patients who receive this type of sedation sleep peacefully during treatment and have limited recollection of their procedures.
For more information about sedation, call us today to reserve a consultation with our oral surgeon.