Many patients planning to undergo a dental procedure have anxiety and concerns about pain, delaying getting treatment and making matters worse. Fortunately, whether it’s a knee injury or a tooth extraction, medical procedures now involve anesthesia to prevent the brain from processing pain. Dental anesthesia is an essential pain-control tool in several procedures.
At Lanier Valley Dentistry, Colin Lentz, DDS and Heather Ramsey, DDS canease your concerns regarding anesthesia so you feel more confident before your next dental appointment.
TYPES OF DENTAL ANESTHETICS
Anesthesia means a loss of sensation with or without consciousness. While there are many options available depending on your age, health condition, and length of procedure, there are generally three types: local, sedation, and general. We use local anesthesia for simpler, less complicated procedures like a cavity filling. Patients are conscious and can communicate as it only numbs the administered area.
Secondly, we use sedation to help relax patients with anxiety. It not only helps with pain but also keeps them still for the procedure. Since there are three levels (mild, moderate, or deep), you might be fully conscious, semiconscious, or barely conscious. Deep sedation can cause drug-induced procedure amnesia, so you don’t remember any of it, and wake up after completion.
Lastly, we have general anesthesia that comes in handy during longer procedures or if you have a lot of anxiety that might interfere with the procedure. General anesthesia makes patients completely unconscious and relaxes their muscles, so they feel no pain. Patients also have to breathe through an air tube while they sleep.
At Lanier Valley Dentistry, Colin Lentz, DDS or Heather Ramsey, DDS will use your medical history and conditions to determine what dental anesthesia type is the best choice for you. To schedule an appointment with us, call us today.