4 Advantages of Sleep Dentistry

If you have a dental phobia or need to get dental treatment for your kids who can't sit still, sleep dentistry could be a good solution. In this type of dentistry, the dentist uses either oral sedatives, sedating gas, or even general anaesthetic to put the patient to sleep. For many people, sleep dentistry makes it possible to endure dental procedures that they would not otherwise be able to tolerate. Here are the four biggest advantages.

1. Avoid Anxiety

Few people enjoy dental check-ups, but for some people, the anxiety around them can be severe. If you know that you will sleep through any treatments that are required, you might find that your fear of the dentist is reduced.

If a dental phobia holds you back from going to the dentist, then finding a good sleep dentist could be the first step in facing your fears. Sleep dentists have a range of options to help nervous patients, ranging from pills that you take before your appointment to relax you to being put to sleep for the entire procedure.

2. Avoid Activating a Sensitive Gag Reflex

For some people, the problem with dental procedures is not mental but physical. If you have a very sensitive gag reflex, you might find it difficult to allow a dentist to work inside your mouth without involuntarily gagging and closing your mouth.

Local anesthetics injected into the gum do not typically help with this problem. For some people, a numbing spray into the throat is a good solution, but others need a more drastic intervention. Oral sedation is a safe way to deal with an overactive gag reflex as it relaxes the muscles as well as the mind.

3. Help Children Get Dental Work

Kids often struggle more than adults with getting dental treatment. Sitting still for a long time is difficult for many children, particularly when they feel frightened or uncertain. Sleep dentistry can make it possible for kids to get extensive dental work that might otherwise need to be delayed until they are older.

4. Get More Dental Work Done in One Sitting

The length of time a person can spend in a dental chair often depends on their tolerance for staying in the same position for several hours. Boredom, stiffness, and pain can all make it difficult to get extensive dental work done in a single day. Many dentists will make you come back two or more times so they can do the work in different sessions. Sleep dentists sometimes offer the option of doing all the work in one session, using medication that can help you fall asleep or doze during the procedures.

Reach out to a local dentist for more information.


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