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Sedation dentistry is an attractive option for patients who may otherwise be too anxious or fearful to undergo invasive dental procedures. A properly trained dental professional can implement sedation in order to make the patient as relaxed and comfortable as possible during dental treatment. While no drug is completely without risk, the type of sedatives used for sedation dentistry do not carry many side effects and are not addictive. Some of the milder side effects you may experience with sedation dentistry include:
• Dry mouth
• Hiccups
• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Retrograde amnesia
Most of these side effects will subside shortly after treatment, and rarely are serious enough to require additional medical attention.
The risks associated with sedation dentistry are most usually related to the possibility of oversedation. Certain groups of medically compromised patients are more likely at risk of reaching a deeper level of sedation than desired, including patients with:
• Cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, or central nervous system disease
• Obesity
• Sleep Apnea
Oral sedatives may also have a greater effect on patients who are elderly, pregnant, or drug or alcohol abusers. Dentists typically use the lowest effective dose of sedative to reduce the risk of sedation complications. In order to minimize the likelihood of complications, your dentist will ask a serious of questions about your overall health history. It is important to answer these questions accurately to ensure a safe procedure. Your dental professional will also monitor your vital signs during and after sedation to further decrease the effects and risks.
When properly administered by a qualified dental professional, sedation dentistry in Fresno CA can greatly improve the experience for nervous patients with minimal side effects and risks.
