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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

My intense love for candy, cakes, and everything in between started as a child. I simply couldn't go one day without something sweet to eat. But my love for all things sweet took a toll on my teeth. My dentist diagnosed me with seven cavities, each one a different size and depth. After sitting through four long dental appointments, I decided to make a change. I now monitor my diet and only eat things that benefit my oral health. I'm here to help you take better care of your teeth. My blog offers tips on how to improve your diet, maintain good oral hygiene, and many other topics. Hopefully, you can learn to overcome your bad habits just as I did. Good luck with your future dental health.

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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

What to Know About Sedation Dentistry

by Eric Bailey

If you hate going to the dentist because of anxiety, you need to consider sedation dentistry. With sedation dentistry, you receive some form of medication or gas that leaves you feeling relaxed and carefree. If you are nervous about sedation dentistry, check out these three facts, so you know if it's the right choice to help you get to the dentist.

It Reduces Stress

The sedation you receive does help you ignore any possible pain or discomfort, but you will still need a local anesthetic. The real goal of sedation is to help you relax during your dentist treatment, even if you are undergoing root canal therapy. The common types of sedation are inhalation, oral and IV sedation. Each option is stronger than the last, and your dentist will help choose the right level for you. The biggest benefit of sedation dentistry is that it allows people who avoid the dentist because of anxiety to get treatment, so they keep their healthy smile.

Most Forms Are Conscious Sedation

Despite the name, most forms of sedation dentistry are conscious. They are not designed to make you fall asleep, and you should still be able to follow instructions and understand what is going on. However, it is not uncommon for patients to fall asleep because they are so relaxed. It is more common if you undergo IV conscious sedation. A side effect is memory loss, so you won't remember much of your visit, which helps keep anxiety low for your next visit. For major procedures like surgery, your dentist may choose deep IV sedation, which will make you fall asleep, and you'll need breathing assistance.

You May Need a Ride

If you are going to use sedation dentistry, you may need a ride to the dentist and back home. With inhalation sedation, the nitrous oxide used is flushed out of your system quickly once the machine is turned off. Therefore, you can drive before and after. With oral sedation, you take a pill before the visit, so you'll need a ride to and from the dentist. Lastly, for IV sedation, you are usually fine before treatment, so you can drive to the dentist, but you won't be allowed to drive home because you'll still be groggy and disoriented.

You don't have to suffer with cavities and pain because you are nervous about going to the dentist. With sedation dentistry, you can have a stress-free visit. However, you will experience memory loss and may fall asleep. For more information, contact a dentist who offers sedation dentistry through sites like matthewssmiles.com.

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