ORAL AND IV SEDATION DENTISTRY HELPS DENTAL PATIENTS WITH FEAR
Bertrand Bonnick, D.D.S. - Cosmetic Dentist in North Carolina
When I was fifteen years old I had eleven cavities. I went to a dentist who extracted three of my teeth, and would have taken out more if I were cooperative. He told me “You will only feel a little pinch”. To him it was a pinch, to me it was a terrifying ordeal and I vowed if I could ever improve the process I would. Since the late 1800’s, dentists have always used various methods of pain control in order to allow their patients to relax and have their work done. Today dentists are continuing to use and revise their pain control techniques, and new technologies are used to help patients manage their fear of dentistry, including the use of IV sedation dentistry.
Some patients could have an extraction with local anesthesia but need additional levels of sedation for a root canal. Other patients could have a root canal with local anesthesia but need sedation for a wisdom tooth extraction. It is all about perception. Some patients are scared when they hear the sound of a drill, while others are bothered by the sight of a needle or the smell of medicine they associate with a dental office. Dental fear is an individual thing.
Based on a patient’s health and the dental procedures needed, the cosmetic dentists in North Carolina can propose different levels of sedation dentistry. Patients treated at one level for one procedure may be treated at another level for the similar procedure at a different time. For purposes of discussion in general dentistry, we can call it “The five levels of sedation.”
THE FIVE LEVELS OF INHALATION ORAL AND IV SEDATION DENTISTRY
Level One: Iatro-sedation or things the doctor can do to make the patients feel more comfortable. This may include hypnosis, use of hard and soft tissue lasers, warming of the local anesthetics, or using small pediatric needles to start all injections.
Level Two: Adding nitrous oxide to decrease the patient’s apprehension along with local anesthesia as needed and the methods used in level one.
Level Three: Anti-anxiety or relaxation medications are given to patients intra-orally prior to treatment. Patients go through treatment in a more relaxed state; some amnesic properties are present in some medications. Patients are monitored with a pulse oximeter, and blood pressure and heart rate monitors.
Level Four: Treatment is done with the addition of IV sedation medication to produce light conscious sedation state. Patient can maintain their own airway and can respond to stimulus thus minimizing the possibility of hypoxia and cardiac events. Patients are monitored with pulse oximetry, capnography, ECG, and blood pressure and heart rate monitors.
Level Five: Treatment is done under general anesthesia in a hospital setting monitored by an anesthesiologist.
If you are hesitant to do dental treatment or even visit a dentist, try discussing these levels of IV sedation dentistry with your personal dentist or give one of our cosmetic dentists in North Carolina a call at 336-841-0000. Our general and cosmetic dentists can help you overcome your fears.
If you already have your personal dentist and you wanted a sedation general dentist to do a procedure for you that requires sedation (Oral and IV Sedation), it is our custom to do the work you need and then gladly refer you back to your general dentist for continuing care.