Who Can Benefit from Sedation Dentistry? A Guide to Eligibility and Advantages

Dental sedation works a little different to general anaesthetic. To make it safe to carry out in a dental practice, we first need to make sure that you stay awake during the procedure. If you were to be put to sleep, you would need a machine to maintain your breathing and monitor your vitals like your heart rate and blood pressure.

With dental sedation, you are still awake but in a twilight state. This means that you are very relaxed and might feel so calm that you are able to drift off to sleep. This is not an alternative to local anaesthetic. Your dentist will still make sure the area is completely numb before they start your dental work.

In this guide, we’re exploring the role of sedation in dentistry and learning more about who this can benefit. You might be surprised to learn that you might be a candidate for this treatment, even if you aren’t scared of the dentist.

When do we use sedation dentistry?

There are a lot of reasons your dentist might recommend sedation before a procedure. It is a safe and effective way to help you to relax during your treatment. Here are some of the most common use cases:

• When patients are very nervous about treatment, sedation is often recommended. This can help those who might be avoiding treatment to work through their phobia.

• Those who might be undergoing a very long procedure might benefit from dental sedation. You don’t have to be afraid of the treatment, but you might be concerned about how long it will take. This is often beneficial for your dentist, as a relaxed patient is much easier to work with. If you’re worried you might start to get restless during your treatment, dental sedation is worth exploring.

• Those with additional and special needs might need to be sedated for long treatments. This will help them to remain calm throughout the treatment. This could include those with cognitive impairment, or those with special educational needs and disabilities.

• If you have a very strong gag reflex and you are unable to get through dental procedures without triggering your gag reflex, then dental sedation can help.

How does sedation dentistry help?

Sedation dentistry can make treatment much more relaxing and less daunting for those with complex phobias. While it won’t put you to sleep, it can help you to feel more relaxed and to be less afraid. It doesn’t prevent pain, so you will still need a local anaesthetic to block pain signals.

For those with a fear of the dentist due to past bad experiences, they can further benefit by being in a twilight state. When you are under sedation, you won’t form memories of the event. This means that you can slowly start to manage your phobia of the dentist until it doesn’t bother you anymore.

It can also help your dentist by making it easier during long procedures. Patients will often start to become restless and uncomfortable after a while in the chair, so sedation can help to ensure you stay still. A calm patient is much easier to work on, so dentists will often enjoy the benefits.

Who cannot have sedation at the dentist?

Your dentist will take a complete medical history before your appointment to find out if you are a suitable candidate for sedation dentistry. There are certain conditions that would make you unsuitable for sedation.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you won’t be able to take advantage of oral conscious sedation for your treatment. Pregnant women will often be referred to the hospital for more complex procedures to help protect the baby.

Certain health conditions will also rule you out as a candidate. For example, if you have any condition that affects your breathing or causes low blood pressure, you might not be able to access dental sedation.

It’s vital that you pay close attention to the pre-treatment guidelines and speak up if you don’t understand anything. You will need to sign a consent form that confirms you understand the terms of the treatment.

Final thoughts on dental sedation

For those struggling with a fear of the dentist, sedation can offer a path forward that will allow you to access the care you need without fear. It is also beneficial for those who might struggle to sit still for the treatment or are worried about things like their gag reflex. If you’re interested in learning more about sedation in dentistry, get in touch with our team to book an appointment.