Sedation and anesthesia can be used for a number of dental procedures both at the office or in a hospital setting and are a scary subject for many parents and patients, due to the fear of the unknown. We hope to ease your worries by outlining possible dental sedation plans. The overall goal of sedation and anesthesia is to provide the utmost comfort and ease to the patient. The type used depends on the patient’s age as well as the kind of procedure being performed.
The most popular form of sedation is nitrous oxide, or ‘laughing gas.’ When inhaled, it puts the patient into a relaxed, euphoric state. ‘Laughing gas’ is not intended to put a patient to sleep. Other forms of sedation involve administering oral medications or IV solutions, before or during the procedure. Common side effects of ‘laughing gas’ include, blurred vision, dizziness and that your dentist’s once seemingly lame jokes, suddenly sound hilarious!
There are two types of anesthesia, local and general. Local anesthesia is provided in the office and uses injections to block specific nerves and numb the patient’s mouth at the site of the procedure. Local can also be combined with sedation to provide extra comfort for the patient, as they remain conscious for this type of procedure.
General anesthesia is administered in the office or in a hospital setting by a trained professional, such as an oral maxillofacial surgeon or an anesthesiologist, for patients who are having extensive work done. This type of anesthesia involves putting the patient to sleep, through IV drugs and/or gaseous anesthetics, for the entirety of the procedure. Children should be taken care of by a pediatric anesthesiologist, as they have specialized training and qualifications to provide the best care for this type of patient. Typically, the patient will meet with the anesthesiologist beforehand and go over the sedation plan. Afterwards, medication will be prescribed for pain and nausea. All of the care is done in one session and the patient is then allowed to go home.
It is of the utmost importance that the patient’s stomach be empty, anytime he or she is having a procedure done that involves sedation or anesthesia. During dental procedures, airway reflexes are impaired which can result in vomiting and can cause serious injury to lungs, especially if there are food or beverage remnants in the stomach. Fasting instructions are given to patients and parents prior to the procedure and should be strictly adhered to.
Please contact (716) 402-1090 for additional information regarding dental sedation and anesthesia at UPD Dental Associates.
Works Cited
American Dental Association. "Anesthesia and Sedation." Mouth Healthy.org. American Dental Association, 2016. Web. 05 Jan. 2017.
Auger, Steve. "Dental Anesthesia Side Effects and Causes for Treatment." Blog post. Colgate.com. Colgate-Palmolive Company, n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2017.
Fine, James Burke, DMD. "A Guide to Sedation Dentistry." Blog post. Colgate.com. Colgate-Palmolive Company, n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2017.
Green, Jenny. "Is Dental Sedation Safe for Kids?" Blog post. Colgate.com. Colgate-Palmolive Company, n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2017.
Truven Health Analytics Inc. "Nitric Oxide (Inhalation Route) Side Effects." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 01 Dec. 2015. Web. 05 Jan. 2017.