Your dentist will want you to be as comfortable as possible during your visit.
To help, they use medications that numb the treated area and help you relax during treatment.
Drugs that numb the pain
You may be most familiar with local anesthetics. They numb the treatment area and nearby tissue. Local anesthetics can be topical or injectable. Topical agents used by dentists are usually applied as gels and numb the surface area. These help reduce discomfort from injection, for example.
Injectable local anesthetics numb the treatment area more and last longer than topical gels. But while waiting for the effect to wear off. Be careful not to injure or bite the numb area.
Alternative Options Used During Treatment
There are ways to help you stay calm during dental treatment. Among those that do not involve medication, suggest that the dentist guides you through relaxation or distraction. It takes place. For example, by using music or virtual reality glasses, you can focus your attention elsewhere.
Your dentist also has medication options that can help you relax. These sedative medications may be given before or during treatment to help you feel relaxed and perhaps even a little sleepy. The medication used and the level of sedation will depend in part on your medical history, dental treatment plan, and dental education. Your dentist may recommend conscious sedation if the nitrous oxide doesn’t help you relax enough. While sedation relaxes you, it allows you to respond to your dentist’s instructions and breathe on your own. Your dentist and staff will monitor you carefully to ensure you can control your breathing and keep your heart rate steady. It may take some time for the effects of these medications to wear off after treatment, and you may have to wait at the dental clinic before leaving.
Sometimes, dentists or oral surgeons administer drugs that induce deep sleep (general anesthesia). This may be necessary for patients who are otherwise unable to sit still during treatment. It can also be used for long procedures such as complex tooth extractions.
Since general anesthesia will require special training and equipment, it is performed in a fully equipped hospital.
Talk to Your Dentist
If you’re nervous about your treatment, talk to your dentist. Because anxiety medications and general anesthesia can affect your breathing and heart rate, be sure to discuss the risks and possible side effects of using these medications. Some other things you can talk to your dentist about;
.Medical history including all medications, illnesses, and allergies or conditions
.Whether the patient should abstain from food or water prior to treatment
.How the patient should feel (relaxed, sleepy but awake, in deep sleep)
.Training or special licenses held by the provider
.What kind of first aid procedures are applied in the dental clinic?
.How long should the effect last after treatment
Solution
Your dentist has options to help you relax during your dental treatment, from numbing the area to be treated to creating varying levels of relaxation and sleepiness. Talk to your physician about your concerns and options to make your experience more comfortable.
