The anxiety that many patients experience when receiving dental care is significantly reduced when treated in a familiar environment. Our office-based sedation service make dentistry more accessible and affordable, while offering patients the convenience of receiving comprehensive dental care in their own dental clinic at at Al Tabeeb Specialist Centre.
Dental sedation has helped bridge the gap that existed between patients and dentists unable to overcome barriers to patient fear and anxiety. Pediatric patients no longer need to experience the numerous, often-traumatizing visits needed for dental treatment. Patients with special needs can now have comprehensive dental care in one visit. Any dental phobia at all -needles, drills, sounds, gag reflex – no longer stands in the way of obtaining necessary dental care.
Benefits of Sedative Dentistry
There are numerous benefits of sedative dentistry, including:
- Safety: When you undergo sedation at the dentist, you will not be completely unconscious, as you would be under anesthetics. You will simply be in a deeply relaxed state.
- Lowers anxiety: When you are in a deeply relaxed, sedative state, hour-long operations will feel like only minutes have passed. Going into dental procedures knowing that the process is going to feel much shorter than it actually is can help lower anxiety. And for most sedation, anxiety-inducing tools like needles or intravenous tubes are unnecessary. The lessened anxiety may help you to feel encouraged to continue with regular dental appointments and avoid further issues down the line.
- Flexible: There are many sedation options, and they can last anywhere from 2-6 hours depending on the type of sedation.
- Quick: Using sedation helps to cut down on the number of visits you will need, as more dental work can be accomplished when patients are under sedation. Dentists are also able to complete procedures quicker when they do not have to adjust to the patient’s movements or reactions.
- Great for special needs: For anyone with processing disorders or other disorders that impair the nervous system, sedative dentistry can be a good option. Individuals with these disorders feel very uncomfortable and highly sensitive in dental settings, so the sedative will create a relaxed and quick experience for them.
What to Expect Before and After Your Procedure
There are a number of things you can expect before and after your sedative dentistry procedure. Before your treatment, you will have a consultation with the dentist to discuss your medical history as well as your lifestyle to determine which sedation method and dosage may work best for you.
Here are some general guidelines to follow right before your procedure:
- Do not use drugs or drink alcohol.
- Follow your specific instructions from your dentist on how to properly prepare.
- Wear comfortable clothes to the appointment.
After the procedure, you may or may not feel residual effects from the sedative and/or side effects. Some post-procedure tips to keep in mind include:
- Have another responsible adult take you home, as you will likely feel drowsy.
- Eat and drink normally to help you return to your normal state, but avoid dairy at first, as it may upset your stomach. Go by how you feel in order to determine how quickly or slowly you can return to your normal eating habits.
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of fluids.
- Avoid scheduling anything else on the day of the procedure so that you have plenty of time to rest and recuperate.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol for 24 hours post-procedure.
- Take your time, as the drowsiness will make you move slower and be more prone to dizziness.
