If you are interested in using sedation dentistry during your dental appointment, you should look for a dentist with proper training. Dentists using this method without training can be putting their patients at risk.
Many people are attracted to dentists that offer sedation dentistry, which allows them to sleep during appointments. Whether you need to get a root canal, tooth extraction, or other procedures that are known for being uncomfortable, you might be considering sedation dentistry. Not all practitioners offer this service, which is why you may start checking out only those who do. However, you should understand that just because a dentist offers this option does not mean he knows how to properly administer it. Learn a little more about this service before choosing a practitioner who offers it.
It is important that dentists know how to offer this service, which is also called twilight or conscious sedation. This is because it allows you to essentially sleep during your visit, and since you are sedated, you do not feel pain or discomfort. For it to work as it should, it has to be given properly, in the right dosage. Not every patient needs this, so it tends to be reserved for those who are particularly scared of dental appointments, or who need to get painful procedures done. Since it usually costs extra money, and is not always covered by dental insurance providers, be sure that it is necessary before you opt for it.
Another reason that you should make sure that your dentist has experience administering this type of drug is that it can be dangerous in the wrong amount. In fact, patients who get too much can end up with their airways blocked, and may even die. Thus, though it is often given as an alternative to general anesthesia, it is not always safer. Dentists have to be specifically trained to give this drug, which requires that they take classes toward this. Ask your practitioner if he has taken the necessary classes for this skill.
Some practitioners hire doctors to administer this drug if they are not qualified to so do on their own. Unfortunately, just being a doctor does not qualify you to administer sedation drugs, either, so if your practitioner has a medical doctor do this job, make sure they have the right training. Of course, most dentists who offer this service without the right training are simply trying to make the appointment more comfortable for patients, and may not even realize that they are in the wrong. They just do not have the proper knowledge or equipment to revive a patient who overdoses or has a bad reaction to the treatment. Qualified dentists typically do.
If you are looking for a new dentist and are interesting in sedation dentistry, you should make sure that he has been trained for it. Otherwise, it is dangerous for you to go under the influence of this type of medication, as you may not wake up from it. Though complications are rare, it is worth it to ensure that you find a practitioner who has the right knowledge and equipment in case anything happens during the appointment to put you or other patients in danger.
