All About Dental Anesthesia

Do you fear going to the dentist because you dread the thought of shots and drills? About 10% of people skip going to the dentist because of this fear when they don’t need to. Sedation dentistry and dental anesthesia was developed specifically to help patients have a more enjoyable time during dental procedures. You have various dental anesthesia options, some of which can put you completely at ease while you have a cavity filled or a more lengthy procedure. Find out what option works best for you!

Dental Anxiety: Do You Have It?

If you get nervous going to a dental office, you are not alone. Studies show that between 9 and 15% of people have dental anxiety, and others feel nervous visiting a dental office. About 65% of American adults visit the dentist each year, which means that 35% of those people aren’t visiting the dentist like they should. That’s between 30 and 40 million Americans that are skipping much-needed dental care. Part of that includes the group with dental phobias and others who either don’t realize that visiting the dentist is important. Some people who don’t visit the dentist simply have very busy schedules.

For people with dental anxiety, visiting a dentist can be a very real and heart-stopping thing for them. The difference between simply having a feeling of anxiety when going to the dentist and having a full-blown phobia is that people with a phobia can’t physically handle being there. Many patients with dental phobias get such fear and intense anxiety that they can be physically sick, have a very rapid heartbeat and breakdowns simply being in an office. This fear comes from a patient thinking about shots and drills being used, or from having bad experiences with shots and drills in the past. Whether you have full-blown dental phobias or simply don’t like dental pain, there is dental anesthesia specifically created for patients like you.

Dental Shots

Every patient is different, so their level of pain tolerance will be different and so will their desires for pain medication. In the past, shots were the only form available for patients to temporarily relax nerves for dental procedures. A classic form of sedation dentistry (or the anesthesia with dental procedures) is an anesthetic shot. However, dentists generally use a cream or gel on the area that will help numb the part when a shot will go into the tissue or gums.

Many patients think that the painful part about a shot is when it goes into the tissue. It’s actually the anesthetic medicine moving throughout the area that gives it that sting. However, the actual shot going in is numbed by the cream. Many patients simply use this form of dental anesthesia and do fine. However, there are other dental anesthesia options that are perfect for patients with dental phobias.

Other Types of Dental Anesthesia

Many patients won’t want shots or may only need a light type of sedative. If you have anxiety before and especially during a dental procedure, you may want to opt for either light sedation, medicine for sedation or IV sedation.

• Laughing Gas: This gas is nitrous oxide and is a colorless and odorless gas. Laughing gas has a sedative effect on patients. It is administered with a mask that goes over your nose. As you breathe in the gas, it simply helps you to feel more relaxed and happy as you have dental work.
• Oral Sedation: Instead of shots, some patients prefer to have oral medication before their dental procedure. The medication will vary depending on the patient and the level of their dental anxiety or phobia. When taken before a cleaning or dental procedure, a patient can be pain-free. This is a great alternative to a shot. Some medications will allow a patient to be at ease during a procedure and fully conscious, but they won’t remember the actual procedure part.
• IV Sedation: When patients want no recollection of their procedure at all, IV sedation may be a good alternative for them. This is a great dental anesthesia option when patients have dental anxiety to the level of panic attacks. We gently place an IV in a patient’s arm and the medication will help them sleep throughout a procedure. This is generally used on more lengthy services such as root canals or dental extractions, but it can be requested.

Can Dental Anesthesia Help You?

Dental anesthesia is not needed for all dental services such as dental cleanings and exams. A patient may not even need any anesthesia if they have a simple surface cavity. However, there are always dental anesthesia options available to patients that can be customized to their needs.

If you have a fear of going to the dentist, don’t skip your appointments! This can make small problems with tooth decay or gum disease become major problems where the teeth fall out or intense procedures are needed to save your smile. Instead, ask about our dental anesthesia options and find one that works for you. Call Stonebrook Family Dental today at (303) 872-7907 to schedule your comprehensive exam!