I am thinking of getting sedation for my dental work. Is it the same kind of sedation you get for surgery?
Samantha W. – Georgia
Samanatha,
It depends on what type of dental sedation you decide to get. Let me give you an idea of the ranges. Bear in mind that not all dentists do every level.
- Nitrous Oxide: It’s the lightest level of sedation. It’s commonly known as laughing gas. It relaxes you and is very useful for making your local anesthetic more effective.
- Oral Conscious Sedation: This is done by taking a pill. Many patients fall asleep during the procedure when using this method. It’s called conscious sedation because even though it completely relaxes you, you will be in control of your body and able to use your reflexes.
- IV Sedation: This is the deepest level of sedation. It has to be done with someone that has specialized training. It is like being out.
I would decide what level of sedation you’re comfortable with and then discuss the options with your dentist.
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