Is fear of the dentist keeping you from getting essential dental work? There are a number of people who have had traumatic dental experiences which have kept them from the dentist and ensuring their oral health. If this sounds like you, know that you are not alone. There are many people who suffer from this same type of anxiety. If you properly communicate your fears with a dental professional, appropriate steps can be taken to ensure an anxiety-free appointment.
Sedation Dentistry in San Antonio is one option for overcoming fears. Dentists use various types of sedation for patients. For example, patients who only report pain as the source of their anxiety may initially be given local anesthetics. These types of anesthesia are numbing agents.
Dentists may also use general anesthesia for patients who have extreme cases of anxiety or those who can still feel pain even though local anesthesia has been used. General anesthesia puts patients into a relaxed sleep state.
Though dentists will make an effort not to use general anesthesia when possible, it becomes necessary for the safety of those patients with anxiety, and it’s unsafe for a patient to kick or resist when a dentist is performing services.
You may not be allowed to drive if given general anesthesia. If you know in advance that you will need sedation dentistry in San Antonio, it is best to have a designated driver.