Sedation Dentistry Information

About 30 percent of American adults do not receive dental care because they are anxious about visiting the dentist, according to Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation. Sedation dentistry is a useful option for such people.

Identification

• Sedation dentistry uses medication to relax patients or put them to sleep before dental work.

Types

• The use of oral sedatives are the most common method of sedation dentistry in the U.S. and Canada, according to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry. Gas such as nitrous oxide and intravenous medications can also be used to cause sedation for dental procedures.

Misconceptions

• Some people call sedation dentistry sleep dentistry, but patients do not actually sleep during the procedure.

Risks

• The American Dental Association reports the risks of sedation dentistry are similar to those associated with general anesthesia. Risks of anesthesia include nausea, vomiting, lung infections, stroke, heart attack and sudden death, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Considerations

• The serious risks of sedation dentistry are rare, according to the Sedation Dentistry Info Center. To minimize the likelihood of experiencing a complication from sedation dentistry, be sure to tell your dentist about any medication you are taking or any health conditions from which you suffer.