Bad Breath: You Don't Have to Live with It

If you have delayed the dental work that you have needed for a while or if you recently incurred extensive damage to your teeth, it is important to understand that with today's technology, you can choose to be free of pain and conscious during the necessary procedures. In fact, it is often more common for dental patients to be awake and free of pain or anxiety than it is for them to be asleep, given the popular use of medications that induce varying levels of conscious sedation. Therefore, when the idea of being completely unconscious in a dentist's office is concerning to you, it is a good idea to have a clear understanding of the facts shared below.

Understanding Why Oral​ Sedation Tends To Be A Better Choice 

It is often surprising to discover that there are a variety of different medications that can leave you with temporary amnesia or nonexistent memories of your dental work. That lack of memory can be quite useful if your anxiety or fear of dental work is significant, as its side effects will wear off fairly soon after the procedures end. That memory loss also is beneficial because you may still be able to respond to questions from the dentist during the actual work.

Although many people who suffer from dental anxiety think that they want general anesthesia, there are higher risks of death and other complications for recipients of general anesthesia when compared to oral sedation. That means that general anesthesia is not commonly recommended.  

Understanding Your Choices For Oral Sedation

Oral sedation includes several different medications. One option is Valium, which is an anti-anxiety medication that also induces mild memory loss. It has been in use for more than half a century and is particularly useful if your dental appointment is longer than normally expected, since the effects of the drug last longer than many other pills. In comparison, Versed makes you feel sleepy and/or relaxed, but wears off quickly. which makes it a good choice if your dental anxiety is a problem even during dental cleanings or other minor work.      

Sonata and Halcion are commonly prescribed for insomniacs, so while you might expect either choice to put you to sleep, it will be much easier for you to wake up and walk out of the dental office on your own accord. Other medications exist as well and it is best for you to speak with your dentist prior to having any work or sedation done to create a care plan that will permit you to get the dental work that you need with the minimum and safest amount of sedation necessary for you to do so.        

In conclusion, major dental work does not have to mean being unconscious in the dentist's office and you should not be anxiety or in pain during the procedures. As a result, you need to be aware of the information shared above when you have decided to improve or restore your significantly damaged smile.