Sedation Dentistry: Relaxing Facts you Need to Know

Would you rather crawl under your car and hide than walk into your dental clinic? If the thought of going to the dentist leaves you trembling with fear, you’re not alone. Many people are so afraid of sitting in the dentist’s chair that they’d rather suffer with a miserable toothache until they can no longer bear it. Sedation dentistry can help take away the dental anxiety symptoms so that you can get the dental exams and treatments you desperately need.

What Exactly does Sedation Dentistry Mean?
Sedation dentistry uses medication to help you relax during various types of dental procedures. These levels of sedation are available to meet your needs:

• Minimal sedation leaves you awake but feeling relaxed.
• With moderate sedation or conscious sedation, you will be able to communicate but probably won’t remember much about the procedure.
• Deep sedation takes you to the edge of consciousness, but your dentist can still wake you if necessary.
• If you receive general anesthesia, you are completely unconscious and unable to respond.

Is any Dentist Able to Administer Sedation?

General dentists can usually give patients oral sedation. Many are also able to administer moderate sedation. Deeper forms of sedation are more complex and present more possible complications. To administer deep sedation and anesthesia, sedation dentists must receive special training and obtain proper credentials and permits. Many sedation dentists who offer these deeper levels of sedation are dentist anesthesiologists and oral surgeons.

What Sedation Methods are Used?

Sedation dentists generally use these types of sedatives:

• Oral sedation in tablet form
• Intravenous moderate sedation
• Deep sedation and general anesthesia

In addition to general sedation, most dental procedures require the use of injected local anesthetic to prevent pain.

Who is a Candidate for a Sedation Dental Procedure?

The following types of patients are great candidates for a sedation dental procedure:

• Patients with severe dental anxiety
• Patients with extremely sensitive teeth
• Anyone who needs extensive dental work
• Patients with a strong gag reflex
• People with a low pain threshold
• Children or adults who can’t sit still in the dentist’s chair

Finding the Oral Sedation Dentistry Detroit Patients Trust

If you need help locating a dentist who can provide oral sedation dentistry Detroit patients rate highly, check with your local dental associations, or ask your dentist or other healthcare providers for a referral.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Detroit, call Gentle Dental of Michigan today at or make an appointment.