Dr. Don S. Moore is a dentist and the co-owner of Dash Point Family
Dental along with his wife who is a dental hygienist. They treat both
children and adults in the Seattle, Federal Way, and Tacoma area and
have been doing so since 2002.
Patients who come in for surgical procedures will usually be put under by a sedative or anesthesia. This can cause some anxiety to patients, especially if it is their first time being put under. Dentists can use different agents of sedation. Some agents are best depending on the level of anxiety that a patient is experiencing. Here are a few tips for choosing the right sedation.
Patients who come in for surgical procedures will usually be put under by a sedative or anesthesia. This can cause some anxiety to patients, especially if it is their first time being put under. Dentists can use different agents of sedation. Some agents are best depending on the level of anxiety that a patient is experiencing. Here are a few tips for choosing the right sedation.
- For patients who are experiencing a severe amount of anxiety, the best method and type of sedation is intravenous sedation. Intravenous sedation is administered through an IV, just like at a hospital. Just like all other sedation, it is important that the patient has someone to pick him or her up and drive him or her home after the procedure.
- For patients with a moderate level anxiety, oral sedation is the best method. Oral sedation is a pill that the patient takes approximately an hour before the procedure is due to take place. Oral sedation relaxes the patient. They will need someone to drive them home.
- For patients suffering a slight amount of anxiety, inhaled sedation is recommended. Inhaled sedation is also known as laughing gas and it is the most common type of sedation that dentists use. The patient inhales Nitrox oxide through a facemask. Patients who undergo inhaled sedation do not necessarily need someone to pick them up because it wears off fast and patients can often return to work or school.
