Oral sedation dentistry uses medications taken by mouth to relax dental patients during procedures – no injections are necessary for the sedation. The result is an essentially pain-free visit to the dentist. Dr. Cobb may, however, inject some pain medication in the treatment area to ensure that the patient remains pain-free after the treatment. The dentist is able to control the amount of relaxation that a patient experiences, so that minor procedures receive lower doses of medication, while more is given for involved procedures.
With minimal sedation, the patient is very relaxed and perhaps even groggy but fully conscious. Moderate sedation involves larger amounts of medication that still allow patients to take direction from the dentist. These patients rarely remember very much of the procedure when they awaken, however.
Routine dental care is not the only instance when oral sedation dentistry is an appropriate choice. For cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Cobb is able to perform multiple procedures designed to improve the way a patient's smile looks, without needing general anesthesia. This results in a much shorter recovery time for the patient. There is also less likelihood of side effects from oral medications compared to general anesthesia.
When sedation dentistry is used, dental procedures can take less time to perform. This means fewer appointments to complete the treatment plan for that particular patient. It can also help alleviate future dental anxiety as the patient realizes there was no pain or stress involved. This allows the patient to feel comfortable with maintaining routine dental care, thus improving overall health.
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