While fear of public speaking may be the number one phobia in the United States today, fear of the dentist is not far behind it. This is not shocking news. Each of us experience some level of trepidation or nervousness when visiting a dentist, especially if we know that something painful lies ahead. The feeling is natural. Nobody would willingly open their mouth so that someone could stick a needle in it or drill down into their teeth. Dentistry is a necessary evil. If it wasn't for the dire consequences of ignoring dental problems, a dentist would be the last person on our list that we'd want to see.
Yet, dentists provide a marvelous service unavailable to mankind for centuries. Anyone who has ever watched the show Castaway can remember the vivid scene where Tom Hanks, trapped on a desert island, is forced to perform a tooth extraction with an ice skate and a rock. Give me the needle any day. Luckily for us, though, there is another alternative.
Sedation dentistry is becoming a fast friend to those of us who are fearful of the dentist chair. This form of dentistry is a step toward painless and worry-free dental work. What if you could go to sleep and wake up to find all of your dental work done? Who wouldn't want that? Sedation dentistry is close to that ideal situation, and some say it has already reached that point.
The reality is that there are different levels of sedation that dentists can offer their patients. Some people just need something to take the edge off the fear. Nitrous oxide gas mixed with oxygen can be used to this effect. Five minutes of nitrous can see a patient calm and ready for treatment, breathing the gas nasally for the entire procedure, and taking five minutes at the close to return to a normal state. This is great for people who drive themselves to the dentist.
Patients can also be sedated by other sedatives, either administered orally or intravenously. These versions of sedation vary, some leaving a patient aware of vocal suggestions to open wider or tilt their head, others creating a deeper sedation, leaving the patient completely unaware of anything. Patients using this form of sedation are rarely able to recall the details of the procedure and may not even remember it at all.
The advantages to this form of dentistry are many, including the ability to do more procedures in one sitting, a situation normally prohibited due to patient tolerance levels. With its gaining popularity, wherever you live, whether in Tooele or Canandaigua, a dentist is available that practices sedation techniques. With a lessening of tension, fear, and pain, it is easy to believe that sedation dentistry will become the norm at some point in the future, allowing patients to get their dental work done in the virtual blink of an eye.
Author Resource:-
Finger Lakes Dental is a Canandaigua dentist provide a comprehensive dental resource for you and your family. (http://www.fingerlakesdental.com)
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