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Sedation Dentist

For many Americans a trip to the dentist for everything from a simple cleaning to major dental work can be so stressful that they never go to see a dentist unless they are in extreme pain. If you find that a trip to the dentist leaves you feeling anxious and uncomfortable you may find that a sedation dentist can help you to relax sufficiently to be able to finally get the dental work you need. For most of us a trip to the dentist is no cause for alarm, but for others it is more nerve wracking than having to into the hospital for major surgery. Depending on the individual the level of stress can quickly lead to major panic or anxiety attacks that can render them non-functional or unable to sleep for several nights prior to their appointment. Often the person will end up canceling their appointment just to avoid having to deal with the stress even though they may really need the dental work. By visiting a sedation dentist the patient can be given medication that will help to reduce their stress levels the night before their appointment so that they can get a good night's sleep and arrive at their appointment rested and relaxed.

There are several different methods of sedation a dentist can use once the patient arrives in his office. The sedation dentist may offer the patient another oral medication once they arrive to help them relax further, not only does this help to reduce the patient's level of stress it also serves to make life much easier for the dentist as working on a very tense patient can make even the most routine treatment overly challenging and take much longer than it should. Another method used by a sedation dentist is an IV sedative that places the patient in a much deeper level of relaxation. In most cases the patient will be rendered unconscious and completely unaware of what is going on. This level of sedation is usually reserved for the worst cases and requires the administering dentist to be certified by the State Board of Dentistry.

The only problem with this level of sedation is that it will leave the patient with period of their lives that they will have no memory of; some patients may not wish to have to deal with this. In the end the level of sedation must be arrived at by a mutual decision between the sedation dentist and the patient. It should be based more on the level of the patient's anxiety than on the need to provide relief from the pain that may be associated with any treatment they may be visiting their dentist for. If you are one of the thousands of people who dread the idea of visiting a dentist you need to contact your Westlake Village CA dentist where Dr. Hever will be more than happy provide you with the proper level of sedation. As a dentist it is his belief that you need to feel comfortable and relaxed so that you can finally get the dental care you need to have a beautiful smile.