10 Benefits of Conscious Sedation for Dental Procedures

What Is Conscious Sedation?

Many dental procedures require a sedative to block pain and/or relax the patient. If you are like some people, you may experience anxiety even during regular office visits. Conscious sedation offers a combination of a sedative and an anesthetic to help calm your nerves and keep you comfortable.

A variety of benefits come with using conscious sedation for dental procedures and exams. The friendly and experienced staff at Driggers and Bakers Family Dentistry is committed to keeping you and your family safe and healthy. We also love keeping you informed, so we’re providing a list of the top ten benefits of conscious sedation in dentistry.

1. Controls Sensitive Gag Reflexes– Some patients have sensitive gag reflexes, which makes most dental work impossible. Conscious sedation relaxes the patient, calms the nerves, and lowers the gag reflex so dentists can quickly complete procedures and exams.
2. Saves Time– Since conscious sedation makes you relax, the dentist is able to work in your mouth more smoothly and swiftly.
3. Fewer Appointments/Saves Money– If you are able to relax and sit still, your trusted dentist can get more work done in one visit. That will lower dental costs and time away from your job.
4. Makes Cooperation Easier– A relaxed patient is a cooperative patient. When you have conscious sedation you are still able to respond to the dentist. People with extreme dental anxiety, mental disorders or conditions, and small children are able to relax and be still enough for the dentist to complete procedures and exams easily.
5. Helps Patients Sit Still– Conscious sedation helps you relax and feel completely comfortable so you are less likely to be startled, move, or even just fidget. You’ll be able to sit still, even over a longer period of time. Sitting still helps the dentist complete your procedure and/or exam safely and swiftly.
6. No Memory of Procedure– A lot of patients feel extremely anxious when they start to think about their dental procedure. Conscious sedation creates mild amnesia. After you are finished with your dental procedure, you’ll remember very little. You will even feel like the entire process took only a matter of minutes, even if it took a few hours. This is particularly helpful with invasive dental procedures such as tooth extractions or root canals.
7. Gets Rid of Pain– Conscious sedation medications contain certain anesthetics and pain blockers to keep you comfortable during all different types of dental treatments and procedures.
8. Provides Comfort– Besides blocking pain, conscious sedation also offers comfort during dental exams and procedures. If you have issues with TMJ or have difficulty keeping your mouth open, the sedation will make dental procedures much easier and sometimes it can even be relaxing.
9. Higher Quality of Dental Care– When you are calm and comfortable, your dentist is able to really get to work. They can concentrate completely on the procedure and provide you with a much higher quality of care. This means your trusted dentist is able to give your teeth the attention and time they need to be properly treated.
10. Better Overall Dental Experience & Care– When you are truly relaxed and feel comfortable, you will be able to have a better experience and receive better care. Having these experiences can erase or reverse your dental anxiety.

Conscious Sedation Helps Give You the Care You Need While You Relax

Dental care is a vital part of our overall health. The gentle and knowledgeable staff at Driggers and Baker Family Dentistry are highly experienced with conscious sedation. We know that many people avoid much needed dental care because they are anxious or afraid.

When you come to our office, you’ll never have to worry. We work with you to make sure every visit is a pleasant one. If you are having any dental pain or just have some concerns about your dental health, contact us today. Call us at 979-345-5135, we’ll have you healthy and smiling in no time.