Sedation Dentistry Is Debated
After my recent article about the benefits of sedation dentistry I thought I would look into it a little more closely to find out whether there were arguments against using it as well as the proponents for it. Naturally, as with just about every new type of procedure, there are words of caution given to undertaking sedation dentistry.
A recent ABC article cites an oral surgeon who is disturbed by the trend of using the technique saying that many dentists are not trained to deal with the complications.
“These drugs can depress respiration and depress cardiovascular activity,” said Pollan, DMD, MS, oral maxillofacial surgeon, Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, N.Y.
“It’s very easy for a patient to slip from moderate to deep by adding additional medications, and before you know it, you have a patient that’s over-sedated and in trouble”
Oral sedation has been used for everything from routine cleanings to fillings and root canals. Dentists must go through a minimum of 24 hours of training in sedating patients and 10 clinical experiences administering the medications. Most patients are not put completely to sleep but rather are in a semi-conscious state.
For patients who are deathly afraid of visiting the dentist, it would seem that any perceived risks of sedation dentistry are far outweighed by the fear of sitting in that dentist chair without any kind of chemical assistance.
The cost of undergoing conscious oral sedation dentistry can run up to $500.
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[...] of sedation dentistry to calm fearful patients before and during dental surgery and the possible cons of using sedation, we will now take a brief look at some of the pain management options available to the dentist. [...]
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