Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

San Antonio, Texas

It is estimated that about 30 percent of the population puts off going to the dentist because they are afraid or embarrassed. This is where sedation dentistry can help you. You no longer need to be afraid, thanks to all the different kinds of sedation that you can have. Dr. Hale will decide which type of sedation to use depending on the patient’s anxiety level and what kind of procedure he is performing.

Who benefits?

If you regularly visit the dentist and you need a procedure done then sedation dentistry will obviously benefit you. However, if you are one of the many people who do not go to your dentist because of fear or anxiety, then sedation becomes even more important. You can go to your dentist and get a cleaning or have cavities taken care of and barely remember a thing. Sedation dentistry has given many people the opportunity to receive routine dental care and avoid much larger problems down the road.
Sedation techniques have also helped others who need a lot of work done at once. What normally would take several visits to accomplish can now be done in one or two. These procedures feel like they only take a couple of minutes when actually they take several hours. Smile makeovers or rebuilding procedures become much less intrusive and the memory of them is no longer traumatic.

Children and Sedation

Another benefit of sedation dentistry is that it helps patients stay still. This is especially important when working in the mouth of a child. Even just a routine checkup can be stressful for a child and sedation helps them relax and stay still to avoid any injuries. Sedation is more important if the procedures the child needs to have performed are extensive. The same is true for adults.
The list of people that sedation dentistry can help continues to grow. Here are a few more examples of who sedation dentistry benefits.

• Children with autism, down syndrome, or other special needs.
• People with major fear or anxiety about going to the dentist
• Patients with a very low pain threshold
• Those with extremely active gag reflexes
• Those who need extensive work done.

Patients should always ask Dr. Hale if sedation dentistry is right for them. After all, the health of your mouth and gums are very good determinates of your overall health. If you neglect it, you could end up with some major problems down the road.

If you live in the San Antonio area and would like to learn more about sedation dentistry, please contact Dr. Brian Hale and his team to schedule a consultation.