Dental Sedation Options for Senior Citizens

With aging comes challenges that can make dental care more important than ever. Because the condition of your oral health directly impacts other health issues, regular examinations and treatment by a qualified dental professional is a critical part of keeping aging patients healthy. Many senior citizens harbor old fears or anxiety stemming from unpleasant dental experiences in their youth. To ensure the aging patient is able to comfortably receive the dental care they need, sedation dentistry offers an array of options to make procedures and treatments stress-free.

Laughing gas, or laughing gas, is the most common method of sedation used for older patients. Administered through a mask, the effects are immediate and allow the patient to remain awake, yet relaxed and calm. Another benefit to laughing gas is that the effects wear off immediately upon completion of treatment.

Oral sedation is another option. Administered in the form of a pill, this type of sedation has the same effects as laughing gas, but does not have the same immediate results. Patients usually need to take oral sedation at least an hour prior to their procedure. Oral sedation is a good alternative for patients who are uneasy about having a mask place over their nose and mouth.

IV sedation is also an option for elderly patients. With this form of sedation, sedative drugs are administered through IV injection. IV sedation induces deep relaxation and produces very little memory of the time spent under sedation, if there is any memory at all. While the patient may appear to be asleep, patients under IV sedation are actually still conscious.

If you are an elderly patient or are responsible for the care of a senior citizen, consult with a sedation dentist about the types of sedation that are offered. A qualified sedation dentist can assess the specific needs and medical history of the patient and recommend the most appropriate form of sedation for the situation. Dental sedation is a wonderful option for aging patients to be able to comfortably and conveniently undergo much needed dental care.
Dr. Smith sedation dentistry for seniors in Fresno CA