Sedation Dentistry: the Key to Resolving Your Dental Anxiety or Phobia

Sep 01, 2020

Are you among the people who fear going to the dentist? Does the thought of sitting in a dentist’s chair for any dental procedure send chills down your spine? Then you should know this; you are not alone.

It is a fact that thousands of people suffer from dental anxiety or phobia and do almost anything to avoid seeing a dentist. In most cases, individuals who struggle with dental anxiety or phobia will rarely keep their dental appointments and only visit the dentist’s office if they are in pain or out of necessity.

Dental anxiety or phobia can negatively affect an individual’s oral health. This is because people who suffer from these disorders tend to avoid keeping regular dental checkups. In the end, dental issues are not arrested early enough before they mutate into severe dental conditions.

This means that they will have to spend more time and money at our dentistry in Vernon, BC, to deal with dental conditions that would have otherwise been avoided.

At Ryan K dentistry, we believe that everyone needs to have access to good oral health care and that everyone should enjoy their dental experience whenever they visit our facility. This is why our dentist Dr. Ryan Kilistoff practices sedation dentistry in Vernon, BC.

Sedation dentistry has transformed the lives of several of our patients who suffer from dental anxiety and phobia, allowing them to enjoy stress-free dental visits and checkups whenever they want to.

Sedation allows our patients to stay calm and relaxed during dental procedures, allowing our excellent dental team to deliver top-notch dental services that would have otherwise proved impossible.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry mainly involves utilizing drugs or substances to ensure patients remain calm during their dental procedures. Most people have a perception of sedation that is slightly off.

People believe that sedation will make them unresponsive and unconscious during their dental procedure, making them fear undergoing sedation even when they need it the most.

The truth is that there are various levels and forms of sedation, and not all of them render patients unresponsive during dental procedures. The level of sedation you undergo will be determined by the intensity of the process you have to undertake and your anxiety level.

How Safe Is It?

Undergoing sedation when you visit our dentistry in Vernon BC, is not something you should fear. It is perfectly safe, mainly because our dentist Dr. Ryan Kilistoff is certified to perform sedation dentistry.

In addition to this, we have an accredited anesthesiologist in our dental team available to perform all general anesthesia procedures. You are in excellent and capable hands.

Our dentist will determine the level and type of sedation you can safely undergo during your dental procedure.

Types of Sedation Utilized During Dental Procedures

Various types of sedation can be applied during dental procedures, they include:

Inhaled Sedation

This is a form of minimal sedation, which involves the use of laughing gas. The gas is administered via a gas mask regulated to release the precise amount of gas needed to sedate you.

The gas makes you relax and have a calm demeanor during your dental procedure, allowing our dentist to execute your dental operation. The gas’ effects tend to wear off fast, and you will be able to find your way home unassisted after your dental procedure.

Oral Sedation

This sedation form can vary from minimal to moderate based on our dentist’s prescribed dosage for your dental procedure. Oral sedation involves the use of oral sedatives administered a few minutes before your dental operation.

These sedatives ensure you remain calm and relaxed during the procedure. With this form of sedation, you may still be aware of your surroundings; however you may experience some drowsiness and amnesia after the procedure.

You may need some assistance in finding your way home after your dental procedure.

Intravenous Sedation

This form of sedation may not differ from oral sedation; however the key difference is the method of administration.

In this case, the sedative is administered intravenously, meaning that it takes effect faster than the oral form of sedation.

Deep Sedation

In this form of sedation, you will be rendered unconscious for your dental procedure’s entire duration. It involves the use of general anesthesia to induce a kind of deep sleep. You will be completely unaware of your surroundings and have no recollection of the dental procedure afterward.

This form of sedation is a good option for patients undergoing multiple intensive dental procedures in one appointment or who suffer from dental phobia.

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