"There
is more and more news about "sedation dentistry" and all its benefits.
But what does all of this actually mean?
This
type of sedation has existed for decades. The new resurgence in
the media (you've all heard the ads) is a marketing gem by a dentist in
the northeast. He began a new dental organization and teaches courses on
how to safely administer the medications, market and churn out as many
cases as possible. This is a service that has been available thru this
office for the past 20+ years. "
"Very
simply put......you take a pill or two......you get VERY relaxed........and
your dentistry
can
be performed in more psychological comfort than being fully "awake" "
Maury
Hafernik Austin Texas
There are 2 primary kinds
of Sedation used in Dentistry "Dental Sedation":
-
Unconscious
Sedation - This is most commonly referred to as 'general anesthesia'
and is usually used in a hospital and administered by an anesthesiologist.
The reason that it is referred to as 'unconscious sedation' is because
the patient is completely unconscious; the muscles stop working and the
anesthesiologist requires machines in the operating room to breathe for
the patient.
-
Conscious Sedation
-In "Sedation Dentistry" all body functions remain normal and the
person is able to breathe on their own.
With this type
of sedation there is a state of very deep relaxation. You can still
speak and respond to the requests of others.
This type of
sedation medication used for Sedation Dentistry "Conscious Sedation"
has an amnesic effect for some patients and they will remember virtually
nothing about their dental appointment.
There are 2
common forms of "conscious sedation":
-
I.V. (intravenous)
Sedation- administered in a dental office; this uses medications administered
directly into the persons blood stream. The advantage of IV Sedation is
that if someone is not as "deep" as the doctor would like them to be more
medication can be given and the effects are instantaneous.
-
Oral Sedation
(Sedation Dentistry)- administered in the form of a pill or liquid;
the patient swallows the medication. The disadvantage with this method
is that the level of sedation for each person is not as predictable.
The reasons for the difference between patients are related to body weight,
genetics, previous drug history, which may increase or decrease the amount
of actual sedation a person experiences. Since it is swallowed, there is
a time delay between the time the medication is taken and it actually causes
sedation. Sedation dentistry is "orally administered sedation".
There are Advantages
to Oral Sedation:
-
The patient has the advantage
of sedation and at the same time does not have the fees associated with
an I.V. sedation.
-
It is much easier to
administer by mouth than by I.V.
-
It is generally safer
and easier to monitor
-
Almost all people respond
very favorably to orally administered sedation.
What are the oral
medications used?
-
The most common drug
is Halcion (also known as triazolam); it is very closely related to Valium
chemically. The differences are that with Halcion there is a much deeper
relaxation and amnesia effect than there is with Valium.
-
For children the most
common drug is Versed (also known as Medazolan).
Source for Sedation Dentistry
Overview: Sedation
Dentistry Maury Hafernik DDS
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