One of the most controversial things in the fields of cosmetic and family dentistry is sedation. As written by The Chicago Tribune, sedation in dentistry is often used to help patients avoid the pain and anxiety that so often comes with full dental implants, cavity fillings, and other procedures. However, critics and fearful patients wonder if the risks of sedation in dentistry don’t outweigh the benefits.

What is Sedation in Dentistry?
According to the National Institutes of Health, sedation in dentistry, commonly referred to as Anxiolysis, is the method of orally or intravenously administering highly controlled anesthetics in order to rid patients of anxiety and pain during dental procedures. Depending on the patient, mild, moderate, or deep sedation is used with express consent in order to make necessary dental work less trying. The resultant sedation leaves patients feeling euphoric and usually without memory of the procedure, despite the fact that they are conscious throughout.

The Risks of Conscious Sedation Dentistry
As with any medical procedure, sedation in dentistry isn’t without risks. According to WebMD, you should consult with your primary doctor before being sedated in order to ensure that any anesthetic will not aggravate any health conditions or dangerously interact with your medications. By and large, sedation is considered to be a safe process, but to be sure, you need to not only consult with your MD, you need to ask your dentist for proof of anesthetics training. Cover all your bases, and the chances of something going wrong are practically nonexistent.

The Benefits of Sedation in Dentistry
There are two main benefits to being sedated for a procedure. As Dental Fear Central, a popular dental medicine website suggests, being sedated means you don’t have to worry about feeling any pain or discomfort during certain procedures. This is especially useful when you’re having your wisdom teeth pulled, a root canal performed, or when you’re undergoing any other procedures that are likely to cause some discomfort.

For most Americans, being sedated is more a matter of anxiety than it is of pain. As Colgate writes, as much as 15% of Americans avoid going to the dentist because they’re terrified. When you’re undergoing a dental procedure, you certainly don’t want your anxiety to get the better of you, causing you to shake from nerves. With the right sedative, your mind can be at ease while your dentist does what she’s best at.

Anytime you go under “the knife” and have to be anesthetized, it’s only natural for you to be worried. However, as you’ve seen, barring any pre-existing conditions or possible contraindications with medications, sedation is perfectly safe. This is a great source for more. More info like this.