Why Is IV Sedation a Good Option for Tooth Extractions?
Dentists will always stress the importance of preventive dentistry to avoid tooth loss. They will restore damaged or decayed teeth to prevent extracting them. However, the dentist may need to remove a tooth or more in certain situations. Read on to learn when dental extractions are necessary and the sedation methods used.
What Are Tooth Extractions?
We know that adult teeth are supposed to last a lifetime. However, this may be impossible due to dental trauma, cavities, or gum disease. Therefore, the dentist will extract the tooth to improve your oral health and eliminate discomfort.
Tooth extractions involve pulling out the tooth from its alveolar socket. The dentist will pull the tooth out in a simple extraction procedure if the tooth is visible. However, they will perform a surgical extraction if the tooth is broken below the surface or impacted. Both procedures require the administration of anesthesia and sedatives to prevent pain.
Why Are Teeth Removed?
Poor oral hygiene leads to the b of plaque on the tooth and gum line. The acids in plaque erode the enamel, causing decay. Tooth decay leads to cavities which allow bacteria access to the gums and tooth roots. As a result, infections occur, leading to extreme discomfort that requires the help of an emergency dentist near you.
Teeth are removed as part of orthodontics. If you have a small jaw, your mouth can be crowded, resulting in misalignment issues. The dentist in Phoenix will recommend extracting a tooth or two. They create room in the jaw for the remaining teeth to shift in place.
Dental extractions are necessary when your wisdom teeth are impacted or unable to erupt above the gum. Impacted wisdom teeth are painful and can lead to severe oral infections. The dentist may extract compromised teeth during chemotherapy or before an organ transplant. They may also extract your teeth if you have severe gum disease.
Types of Sedation for Dental Extractions
Various types of sedation may be used at dental offices during tooth removal. The dentist may administer inhaled sedation in the form of a gas to eliminate your anxiety. You will be aware of what is happening during the procedure, and the sedative will wear off quickly.
Alternatively, the dentist can use oral sedation during your extraction. It is in the form of a pill that you take at a set time before the process. You will be asleep but can be easily roused to respond to instructions or answer questions.
Another sedation option is general anesthesia. You will be completely unconscious during the extraction. Your dentist in Phoenix will monitor your vitals throughout the process since you will not be able to breathe. The sedative does not wear off immediately after surgery. Therefore, you will require someone to take you home and keep an eye on you for a while.
The last type of sedation is intravenous or IV sedation. This sedation is administered through an IV line to a vein in your arm. You will be asleep during the extraction but will respond to commands from the dentist. If you are afraid of needles, they will administer nitrous oxide before inserting the IV line to help you relax.
Why Is IV Sedation Suitable for Tooth Extractions?
IV sedation is administered straight into the bloodstream. Therefore, it takes effect in seconds, putting you in a deeply relaxed state. With IV sedation, you will remain conscious and can answer any questions from the dentist. In addition, you will not need tubes to help you breathe, allowing the dentist to operate freely.
The sedation will help you remain calm throughout the procedure. It also helps keep you from panicking and moving around during the extraction. This ensures you are safe and gives the dentist ample time to complete the process. The sedative also suppresses any gag reflex allowing the dentist to operate on your back teeth easily.
IV sedation is suitable for lengthy and short procedures because recovery from the sedative is quick. However, you will feel groggy after the extraction and may experience slight nausea. It is also safer than general anesthesia, which leaves you unconscious and unable to breathe.
Do you need to have a tooth extraction? Then book an appointment with us at On Pointe Dentistry. We provide safe, painless, and quick dental extractions.