Dental health is one of the essential elements to ensure your overall health, so you need to safeguard it as much as possible. Dentistry has changed over the years. These days it is more accessible, efficient, flexible, and convenient for everyone. Technology advances in dental practice have led to the development of modern dental procedures and equipment that help dentists offer the best dental services to their patients.
Sleep dentistry is one of the methods of performing advanced dental procedures. Since its development, most patients prefer it to the traditional methods of performing dentistry.
What is sleep dentistry?
Also referred to as sedation dentistry, it allows you to be unconscious during your dental procedure not to have to sit through it. Moderate or conscious sedation allows for the maintenance of a little consciousness during the process.
The truth is, dental procedures can induce fear, anxiety, stress, nervousness, apprehension, and other undesirable feelings.
It is not uncommon to see people who keep on postponing or avoiding dental treatments altogether because of dental phobia.
Dental anxiety or fear is normal. If you are hesitant to consult a dentist or seek dental treatment due to fear, you should ask about sleep dentistry services. Dentists use specialized medication to help you relax during procedures.
Sleep dentistry has various levels of sedation which are selected depending on the needs of a patient. They include:
• Minimal sedation- you will be awake throughout the procedure, but you will be relaxed. It enables you to experience a pleasant and stress-free dental treatment process.
• Moderate sedation- this is also known as conscious sedation. You will feel zero pain and have little or no memory of your dental procedure. This is a good option for patients comfortable with only a mild awareness of the process.
• Deep sedation- it eliminates all consciousness during the dental procedure. Simply put, you sleep through the procedure, unaware of what is happening. You will not remember anything that occurred during the dental process.
How does sleep dentistry work?
During the consultation, your dentist will discuss with you to determine the best type of sedation for you. It is good to let your dentist know what you want and ask any questions you have. Whether you wish to relax during the procedure or sleep throughout the entire time, your dentist explains the process and gives you preparation instructions.
You need to bring along a partner or a trusted friend to escort you from your sleep dentistry appointment since it may take some time for the sedation to wear off completely. That means you should not drive, and you need a trusted person to keep an eye on you until you are okay.
During the treatment, the doctor constantly monitors your oxygen levels, blood pressure, and pulse to ensure your safety. The dentist gives you post-procedure instructions for your safety, such as taking a day off from work or school.
Is sleep dentistry safe?
Sleep dentistry is safe, but it has to be administered by a professional and experienced dentist. Anesthesia may result in other complications, so it is best to discuss it with your doctor before being sedated. Ensure you carry out due diligence to know about the dentist’s qualifications and if they are accredited to perform sleep dentistry.
Conclusion
Sleep dentistry is vital for managing fear and anxiety during dental procedures. It is also used on patients with disorders such as autism who are hard to manage during dental treatments.
