Sedation Dental Procedures

Sedation Dental Procedures

Provision of dental services or dentistry is the professional care of teeth, oral hygiene and dental surgery. It involves the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, the maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures, and their impact on the human body.

To provide a relaxing and anxiety free dental experience, dental sedation procedures are used. They involve the administration of drugs to help you relax and alter your state of consciousness. The drugs are administered by inhalation, orally (pill) or intravenously (IV). Different drugs and methods are employed based on the individuals need and procedure to be performed.

In intravenous sedation, complete patient comfort is achieved by the administration of sedative and pain controlling drugs directly into the veins. The rate and depth of the sedation is finely controlled to provide the highest standards of patient comfort and safety. This option is important for patients for whom painful procedures are to be performed e.g. modern dental implants where a surgical device is used to replace one or more missing teeth by fusing to the bone and acting as an artificial tooth root. The dental implants help preserve the bone by providing the stimulation that was previously provided by natural tooth root canal (space within the root of a tooth).

This method is also used in dental bonding where a dentist applies a tooth-colored resin material and cures it with visible, blue light. This ultimately "bonds" the material to the tooth and improves the overall appearance of teeth. Dental bonding techniques have various clinical applications including operative dentistry and preventive dentistry as well as cosmetic and pediatric dentistry, prosthodontics, and orthodontics.

Nitrous Oxide provides a light, comfortable sedation for small, short procedures. It is used for routine dental cleanings. The level of the sedation is controlled by varying the concentration of the nitrous oxide delivered via a nasal mask. It is used in initial stages of dental lumineers placement.

Orthodontics is the study and treatment of improper bites caused by tooth irregularity or disproportionate jaw relationships. Metal wires ("Jushi") are inserted into orthodontic brackets, made from stainless steel or a more aesthetic ceramic material. The wires interact with the brackets to move teeth into the desired positions. Other methods may include invisalign, where the dentist straightens your teeth using a series of clear, custom, removable plastic aligners. IV sedation is used.

Oral Sedation is administered by taking a pill. There will be no noticeable difference in body function under effects of the pill and the patient will continue to breathe normally. It can be used in invisalign and dental lumineers. It is preferred by patients who fear needles.