Sedation dentistry allows a doctor to make a patient feel more comfortable during procedures. It involves the use of drugs so dentists generally reserve it for more difficult cases. However, there are at least four times when sedation is the right choice.

Dental Anxiety 

Your dentist needs you to be as still as possible during key parts of most procedures. If a person has dental anxiety, though, they may react suddenly. This is a potentially dangerous scenario if the dentist is working with a tool like a drill. Consequently, most offices offer sedation dentistry services to individuals who have dental anxiety.

Bear in mind that you don't need a full-on anxiety diagnosis. Many people have dentistry-specific anxieties. Your doctor may elect to use drugs available at their office or give you a prescription to take a couple of hours before the procedure. They will discuss this choice with you during the appointment before your procedure.

Complicated or Prolonged Procedures

Some procedures are so complex or prolonged that even people without anxiety may struggle to stay comfortable. If a doctor is installing multiple dental implants, for example, the work might take hours. This is especially common if the doctor is removing teeth the same day as doing the implants. Sedation dentistry can keep a patient comfortable even as the doctor works at length.

Severe Gag Reflex

Another common problem is a patient's gag reflex. Some folks simply can't handle having a dentist's fingers or instruments in their mouth. In extreme cases, people may even vomit. Once more, these are issues that pose hazards when a dentist is working with drills, scalpels, needles, and other sharp objects. Sedating the patient can relax their gag reflex and make procedures possible.

Medical Conditions

Patients also might have medical conditions that can make dentistry uncomfortable even if the procedure is short. If a patient has severe back pain, for example, sitting in the dentist's chair can exacerbate their pain. Sedation dentistry allows many patients in these situations to get through procedures. Notably, if you have a pain management regimen, your general practitioner may need to work with your dentist to ensure there won't be any drug interactions.

Sedation dentistry is also an option for many people who have a medical issue like epilepsy. Even if there's a low risk of a seizure and the condition is well-managed, a dentist and patient may want to discuss sedation options.

Contact a local sedation dentistry service to learn more.