Sedation vs. Anesthesia

Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, CA

Sedation dentistry involves the administration of drugs that calm your central nervous system during a surgical operation. Sedation is used often used for:

• Reconstruction surgery
• The removal of wisdom teeth
• Any procedure for a patient who has high levels of anxiety about visiting the dentist

Conscious sedation

This form of sedation uses pain relievers and sedatives to induce an altered state of consciousness to lower pain and discomfort. While you are under conscious sedation, you can typically speak, respond to verbal commands and express occurrences of pain. Conscious sedation is a very safe way to relieve any discomfort and/or anxiety you may experience during cosmetic dentistry treatment.  Some of the side effects of conscious sedation can include nausea, headaches and brief amnesia.

Oral sedation

Oral sedation is used to alleviate anxiety prior to a dental appointment. This type of sedation is generally administered in the form of anti-anxiety pills like benzodiazepines. The pills are normally taken the night before an appointment to reduce stress and ensure a restful slumber.

The benzodiazepine options are broken down into two categories:

• Anti-anxiety drugs—designed to keep you calm
• Sedative hypnotics—that induce a calming effect, including drowsiness

Local anesthesia

Without affecting your state of consciousness, this technique makes the affected part of your body numb to pain. A local anesthetic will be applied to the surface of your body, and will diffuse into your nerves, thereby inhibiting signals for pain and muscle contraction.

A local anesthesia is often used for procedures including:

• Root canals
• Fillings
• Tooth removal
• Dental implants
• Gum procedures

General anesthesia

The most powerful form of anesthesia, general anesthesia causes you to become unconscious during surgery. You are not asleep, but instead in a carefully controlled state of unconsciousness, where your chest muscles are paralyzed and a ventilator breathes for you. 

Your vital signs and fluids are closely monitored to ensure a successful operation. General anesthesia is a very powerful method of ensuring that you experience no pain during major surgery.

Right for you?

The method of sedation that is right for you depends upon your procedure, your level of anxiety and your overall health, as there is a greater risk of complications with anesthesia. However, advancements in medicine and technology have made sedation dentistry safer and more effective that ever before.

If you or a loved one has anxiety about visiting the dentist, sedation dentistry can help bring about a peace of mind about your procedure. If you live in the Beverly Hills or Los Angeles area, please contact our office today. We can help make your visit comfortable and successful. Please call us today to schedule your free consultation.