Sedation dentistry aims to offer pain and stress relief via sedation. The sedative makes the patient drowsy. It allows the doctor to perform numerous dental procedures in just one visit. The sedation is the healthcare expert that administers the sedatives. They give these drugs via the vein, sometimes orally or through a face mask. Read this guide to know the different levels of sedation in dentistry.

An Overview of Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry near you is safe if an experienced dental expert handles it. The main aim of sedation is to make you relaxed and feel comfortable before and during the treatment. It is ideal for individuals with dental phobia or those undergoing time-consuming treatment.

How Do You Feel When You Get Sedatives?

It typically differs between individuals, depending on the sedatives the sedation gives. For example: in moderate and mild sedation, the patient will feel relaxed. But in profound sedation, they will stay asleep throughout the procedure.

Different Phases of Sedation Dentistry

The sedation level the dentist use relies on many factors:

• Your age.
• Type of dental procedure.
• Medical condition.
• How your body reacts to anesthesia.
• Health habits.

Below are the sedation levels used in dentistry:

• Minimal

The dentist uses this sedation level when they want you to get involved in the dental procedure. Minimal sedation medications make you so relaxed you won’t mind sitting in the dentist’s chair and getting the treatment done. But you will likely stay completely awake.

You will respond to verbal commands and stimuli. It means this sedation level provides fewer effects on diverse body sensations. The American Dental Association depicts the minimal sedation option as a minimal depressed state of consciousness. After completing the dental treatment, it takes some time for the sedation effects to go away.

The dentist regulates minimal sedation by asking the patient to inhale nitrous oxide at the dental office or consume a prescribed pill one hour before the dental appointment.

• Moderate

Moderate sedation is also known as conscious sedation. The dental expert uses this sedation for dental procedures requiring analgesia and muscular relaxation. You will be in a dream-like state and may fall asleep during the process. But you will breathe yourself without needing help from the sedation.

Moreover, you may not or may remember some of the dental procedures. But you would be able to reply when anyone asks you questions. Also, you may need tactile stimulation from the dental professional.

The dental professional administers moderate sedation using injection. It functions within several minutes of medicine moving into the bloodstream. After treatment, moderate sedation takes only 20 minutes for the effects to eradicate.

• Deep

Our Dentist at Elevate Dental Temecula uses this level of sedation for painful dental procedures that need the relaxation of muscles with less recoil. The primary motto is to accomplish anxiolysis for dental procedures during which the dentist manages aches by regional or local anesthesia.

You will respond to the verbal commands and feel sleepy throughout the dental treatment. It means you are close to unconsciousness. However, you can be aroused when required. With deep sedation, you may need help with breathing. Also, your cardiovascular function stays unimpaired.

Furthermore, you will have little or no memory of what happened because they will stay unconscious during the process. The deep sedation level is best for patients with severe dental fear and anxiety. After the dental treatment, it will take about 24 hours for the sedation effects to go away.

• General Anesthesia

When the sedation offers general anesthesia to the patients, they stay entirely unconscious and do not reply to the pain. It means you will wake up only at the end of the process. But during general anesthesia, your cardiovascular functioning may get impaired. You may need help to maintain positive pressure ventilation and a patent airway.

Contact our dentist in Temecula today to explore a complete sedation dentistry procedure.

Can I Drink or Eat Something Before the Treatment?

• For minimal sedation, usually, you will not need to fast.
• You must stop eating six hours before the dental treatment for deep and moderate sedation levels. You can drink clear fluids like black tea/coffee, diluted juice, water, etc., two hours before the procedure.
• Ask the expert for specific details about when to stop eating food and take diabetic medicine.