Going to the dentist. Those four simple words have the power to inspire fear and anxiety in millions of people throughout the United States. Avoiding or delaying a trip to your family dentist, however, can have painful and costly consequences for the health of your smile. Luckily, there is now the option to visit a sedation dentist. Sedation in dentistry allows people to be unconscious or semi-conscious during procedures which saves them pain and worry and allows dentists to operate quickly and efficiently. Wondering when to seek out a sedation dentist? Check out these 5 times to consider a sedation dentist below!
1) Routine Checkup If fear or anxiety has kept you away from seeing your dentist even for routine care, visiting a sedation dentist for this may be a great option. Tooth enamel is no joke-it is one of the hardest substances found anywhere in the human body. Properly caring for and cleaning it can sometimes require some force, and this may be much more comfortable for you while sedated than awake.
2) Cosmetic Dentistry The field of cosmetic dentistry is rapidly growing, Increasing by over 500,000 people a year, there are over 3 million Americans with dental implants. A cosmetic dentist can help you feel more confident in your smile and improve your oral health by removing or treating significantly damaged teeth.
3) Brightening Your Smile It seems that teeth seem to be getting whiter and whiter. One reason for this is that there has been a 300% increase in teeth whitening procedures in the United States over the last five years. Thought these procedures may not be painful, they can take a while and can be anxiety inducing for some. Tooth whitening procedures are another example of a time to consider a sedation dentist.
4) You are Aging Aging takes its toll on your oral health. More than 30% of adults over the age of 75 have no remaining natural teeth. Removing these teeth and fitting new dentures can sometimes be a very uncomfortable process. Sedation dentistry can greatly help improve your experience of dental healthcare as you age and require more interventions.
5) You are Having Many Procedures If you stayed away from the dentist for years and now have several teeth to be treated, you could be in for many procedures spread over a long period of time to get your teeth back to health. In some cases, sedation dentistry can allow those procedures to be combined and may shorten your overall length of treatment.
Whether you just need a routine check-up or major dental work, consider exploring sedation dentistry to help reduce pain and anxiety and help you get your smile back. This is a great source for more.