Not many people are keen on the idea of visiting the dentist. However, there is sedation dentistry that helps people overcome dental phobia. Sedation is a process in which sedatives such as tranquilizers and nitrous oxide are administered to help relax and calm nerves.

There are different methods to sedate a patient. In an IV (Intravenous) sedation or conscious sedation, certain medications are administered through injecting a needle in the arm or back of the hand. Once the needle, which is wrapped in a soft plastic tube, enters the vein, the plastic cube is left in place and the drugs are applied through the tube. The most common drug that is used in IV sedation is benzodiazepine which is an anti-anxiety sedative. It relaxes you, makes you sleepy, and causes partial or complete amnesia. Hence, you practically forget what happens during the procedure.

Another method of dental sedation is oral sedation which uses anti-anxiety pills also known as “happy pills.” Like IV sedation, it uses benzodiazepine drugs. This method is usually for patients who are extremely anxious about receiving dental treatment.

A Chicago sedation dentist can also perform inhalation sedation. In this sedation method, nitrous oxide, also known as the laughing gas, is administered. Nitrous oxide is a gas that has no color and smell. When it is inhaled, pain is killed and the nerves are soothed. It is called the laughing gas because it gives a euphoric feeling, making the patient feel light-headed.

A Chicago sedation dentist administers this laughing gas using equipment that supplies it to the patient who wears a double mask that is connected to machines. The white part inside the mask gives off wonderful scents such as vanilla, strawberry, and mint. On the other hand, the twin tubes of the mask, which are attached to machines, function to supply the gas. One tube is attached to the analgesia machine where it delivers the gas to the patient who breathes it while the other tube attached to the vacuum machine sucks the exhaust gas.

Because there is a Chicago sedation dentist available, there is nothing to worry about when visiting the dentist. Rest assured, you will be relaxed and come out with healthy teeth.