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* Asterisk'ed field is a mandatory field to be filled out.Sedation Dentistry in Brookline, MA
While few people enjoy going to the dentist, a small percentage of adults, about 5 to 10 percent, have a fear of dentists so strong that it’s considered a phobia. Dental phobia can cause intense fear that sufferers refuse to see a dentist, which is bad for their teeth. However, by using sedation dentistry, dentists can sometimes conquer that fear.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
General dentistry use sedatives to relax and calm fearful patients so that they can treat them. The sedatives they use may be:
- Laughing Gas
- Oral sedatives
- Intravenous or IV sedation
- Sleep sedation
- General anesthesia, which oral surgeons only use
When you visit one of our dentists at Dental Partners of Brookline, talk to them about your fear, and they will use the best sedative for your needs. However, fear isn’t the only reason they may use sedatives. If a dental procedure is necessary, like filling a cavity or deep cleaning teeth, patients in Brookline, MA are usually given sedatives to keep from feeling pain during injections of mouth-numbing drugs.
Is Sedation Dangerous?
Every dentist receives training in sedation dentistry during dental school, and it is safe in the hands of one of our experienced dentists at Dental Partners of Brookline.
People who are obese or have obstructive sleep apnea need to consult their physicians before undergoing dental procedures that involve sedation.
Side Effects of Sedation
Since the sedation our dentists in Brookline, MA use vary due to the severity of the dental procedure and your preference, here are the side effects of the various sedation techniques.
Laughing gas:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Blurry vision
- Feeling Sleepy
Oral sedation:
- Forgetting procedure despite being awake for it
- Unable to drive home due to drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headaches
IV sedation:
- Bruising, swelling, or bleeding at IV site
- Falling asleep or being drowsy
- Unaware of what is happening around them
- Unable to drive home by themselves
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headaches
Getting a complete medical history can prevent many side effects, so you must be honest with your dentist and their staff when providing information.