I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.
Most dentists prefer to keep their patients awake during dental procedures. There are many reasons for this preference: putting a patient to sleep takes a lot of time and resources, and it can be risky for certain people. However, there are some situations in which sleep dentistry — in which the dentist uses a sedative to put you to sleep — makes the most sense. Talk to your dentist about sedation dentistry if any of the following situations apply to you.
1. Anxiety Prevents You From Getting Dental Treatment
Very few people like going to the dentist, but some people have so much anxiety over getting a dental treatment that they put off necessary procedures, which allows their dental conditions to get worse. If dental anxiety interferes with your ability to access dental treatment or keeps you awake at night in the days leading up to the treatment, ask your dentist about sleep dentistry.
Even if it is not appropriate to put you to sleep, your dentist can use twilight sedation to help you feel calm during the treatment. Having a worry-free experience of getting dental treatment could help you to overcome your phobia in the long term.
2. You Need Extensive Dental Work
Even people who do not usually have dental anxiety can have bad experiences during very long sessions in the dentist's chair. If you need extensive treatment to address a serious oral health problem, sleep dentistry could be the most comfortable option for both you and your dentist.
While you are asleep, your dentist can take their time working on your teeth. Meanwhile, you do not need to focus on sitting still or holding your mouth open. Sleep dentistry may allow your dentist to do all your dental work in a single session rather than splitting the procedure into several sittings so you can have a break between them.
3. Your Gums Are Very Sensitive
Most people can comfortably get dental treatment with local pain relief. However, some people have very sensitive gums that cause them pain even after the dentist administers a numbing agent. Even having the local agent injected into their gum can be unbearable for some people. If you think your gums are unusually sensitive, ask your dentist whether sleep dentistry could be an option for you.
4. Your Gag Reflex Is Too Strong
For some people, a strong gag reflex makes getting dental treatment difficult. During a dental procedure, you need to keep your mouth open and stay still, but many people unwillingly gag when a dentist places instruments into their mouth. If you know you have a very strong gag reflex, ask your dentist whether sedation could help to suppress it so you can get the treatment you need.
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