A Los Angeles Sedation Dentist Explains Common Dental Sedatives

It is very common for people to be afraid to go to the dentist. There’s a very innate fear in this sort of medical treatment, and that uneasiness can only grow when it comes to elective procedures such as cosmetic ones. However, there are ways to ease people’s concerns and that is what a Los Angeles sedation dentist can help you with. Here, we’ll discuss the different forms of dental sedation and the ways in which they each can help a patient sitting on the dentist’s chair.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry refers to the use of medication that helps the patients relax during a dental procedure. This doesn’t mean that the patient is asleep, as some people might think. There is a difference, after all, between sedation and general anesthesia, the latter of which a Los Angeles sedation dentist will rarely have to use. So, if you’re not asleep, what does the sedation do? Let’s go over the kinds of sedation that dentists use.

What Kinds of Sedation Are Used?

The most common methods of sedation used in dentistry are the following:

Oral sedation – Oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate depending on the dose given. The minimal end of the spectrum often takes the form of a pill (a member of the same drug family as Valium), which will make the patient drowsy but leaving them awake. A larger dose can make the person groggy, and even help them fall into a light sleep during the procedure.

Inhaled minimal sedation – Also known as laughing gas, this method of sedation involves breathing nitrous oxide. This sedates the patient enough for them to not feel anything during the procedure while remaining awake, but it is light enough for them to be able to drive themselves back.

Moderate IV sedation – This sedative is administered through a vein, making it the most immediately effective. It also allows the dentist to continually adjust just how much sedation the patient needs at a specific moment.

What About General Anesthesia?

General anesthesia, on the other hand, will leave a person almost or totally unconscious during the procedure, which means that the patient will not be easily awakened afterward. In order for general anesthesia to be implemented, there needs to be an anesthesiologist there to apply it, for it’s a more delicate sedative. This will rarely be implemented in cosmetic dentistry, but on a few select occasions, the treating professional might see it fit.

Find a Los Angeles Sedation Dentist

It’s only natural to feel uneasy about a dental procedure, almost everyone goes through this at some point or another. However, a good Los Angeles sedation dentist can help alleviate this at the time of getting a procedure done. Dr. Anthony Mobasser, the celebrity dentist himself, is the local (and national) favorite for dental cosmetic procedures. If you are interested in learning more about what he can do for you, just give him a call at (310) 550-0383 and he’ll take a look at your case. The smile of your dreams can be well within your reach.