Going to the dentist, while generally not an activity most people relish, is viewed as a necessary chore to maintain healthy teeth and gums and to avoid potentially serious oral diseases. Dental phobia, however, is a real and serious problem that prevents some people from seeking the health care they need. In fact, WebMD estimates that 9 to 20 percent of Americans avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety or fear.
If you are among those with this type of phobia, you may want to consider a dentist who offers IV sedation to help calm your nerves. Here are seven reasons this form of treatment may be right for you.
Relaxed but alert
It’s the best of both worlds: IV sedation allows patients to fall into a deep state of relaxation while maintaining enough consciousness to respond to questions from the doctor.
Takes effect quickly
If sitting in a dental chair gives you heart palpitations, you know the sooner you can relax, the better. One benefit to IV sedation is its fast-acting effects. As soon as the medicine enters a patient’s system, it begins to act immediately, thereby calming nerves and easing anxiety as quickly as possible.
More control
With IV sedation, doctors have more control over the amount of medication administered to the patient. As soon as the desired level of anesthesia is achieved, the sedative is shut off, making IV delivery a safe and effective method of sedation, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Less nausea
If anesthesia tends to make you sick to your stomach, there’s good news with IV sedation. The American Society of Anesthesiologists states that people who undergo this type of sedation frequently experience less nausea than those under general anesthesia.
Faster recovery
Many people dread operations because of the recovery time, but imagine if you could return to your regular activities not long after your procedure. If you require oral surgery, IV sedation allows dentists to work more quickly, equating to less operative time, faster healing and less downtime, according to Stubbs Dental.
Get more done at once
If you haven’t been to a dentist for years, the damage may be too great to be contained to a single appointment — but don’t let that worry you. If extensive work needs to be done, doctors can perform multiple procedures at once instead of having to do them over the course of several appointments, thus eliminating the anxiety of having to go to multiple appointments.
Improved oral health
While this may seem like a no-brainer, it may be the most important reason of all. Whether it’s for routine examinations or more invasive procedures, IV sedation offers a comfortable solution for patients who would otherwise skip dental appointments that could lead to the prevention of disease and decay.
If you’ve been avoiding the dentist because of dental anxiety, IV sedation may be just what you need to face your fears and take care of your oral health. For more information on how IV sedation can give you peace of mind during dental work, contact Stubbs Dental today.
