We understand that some people experience anxiety about visiting the dentist. That is why our office provides sedation dentistry to help patients feel more comfortable during their visit to Whole Tooth Dentistry. Furthermore, some more complicated procedures may require some form of sedation to be performed. Sedation dentistry allows some visits to be more manageable for both us and you, so be sure to speak with our 31322 dentist, Dr. Barkley, about our sedation treatment options. Some forms of sedation will cause a patient to fall asleep while others may simply calm them down. This type of sedation allows you to respond to our team's directions without rendering them unconscious. If a procedure is predicted to take several hours, sedation may be recommended to allow the procedure to run smoothly and keep the patient comfortable. General anesthesia is used to put patients to sleep during dental procedures.

 

General anesthesia may be recommended if: 

• The procedure is painful or uncomfortable

• It is going to take a long time to complete the treatment

• A patient’s breathing may be compromised

• The treatment is anxiety-inducing

 

Candidates for Sedation

Typically, patients need to be in good health to be a candidate for sedation dentistry. That means both a patient’s physical and mental health need to be optimal to be considered for sedation dentistry. You may require clearance by a cardiologist before being considered for dental sedation. Heart conditions can be life-threatening under general anesthesia, so it is important to speak with our 31322 dentist about your treatment options. Before deciding on the method of treatment, Dr. Barkley will take a thorough medical history and a physical exam. You may also require medical clearance by a physician.

 

Types of Sedation: 

• Oral sedatives - Pills or liquid meant to keep patients awake but relaxed during the procedure.

• Laughing Gas - Nitrous oxide allows you to stay awake but relaxed and disoriented. Dr. Barkley may have you breathe some oxygen to clear your lungs after the procedure.

• IV Sedation - This form of anti-anxiety sedation is injected directly into the vein. Patients are able to stay awake though they will be completely relaxed for the duration of the procedure. You may need to bring someone with you to our office to drive you home after the procedure.

• General Anesthesia - This type of sedation puts the patient to sleep for the duration of their procedure and may leave you feeling groggy afterward.

 

Risks and Aftercare

Side effects of sedation dentistry include drowsiness and confusion but you should speak with Dr. Barkley about any possible risks associated with your specific care. Other forms can be cleared by breathing in oxygen after the procedure. You should also speak about any medications that are prescribed to you for aftercare purposes. Certain types of pain medications may cause nausea, dizziness, or may be otherwise unsuitable for your lifestyle, so talk to Dr. Barkley about your pain-relief options.

 

If you have any questions about sedation dentistry, or if you would like to inquire about further information, contact our 31322 dentist, Dr. Barkley of Whole Tooth Dentistry. You can reach our office at 912-988-7723 or request an appointment on our contact page.