Some people cannot imagine a more nerve-wracking and distressing experience than being told that a lengthy dental procedure is being scheduled. Depending on the type of treatment required, this could mean a few hours “in the chair” as a dentist, periodontist or other dental expert does some extensive work. Of course, for such comprehensive work, a typical patient will be administered a local anesthetic, so as not to experience any pain. But for some, the anxiety of sitting through procedure may be more stressful than the procedure itself, and for that, sedation dentistry in Long Island can provide some relief.

Sleep The Treatment Away

Most of the time, a general anesthetic, that is, an application of drugs that put a patient to sleep, is usually only advised for extensive dental work, such as the removal of a lot of wisdom teeth. But sedation dentistry in Long Island can be requested for other procedures, as long as your dental expert approves.

Sedation dentistry in Long Island uses IV—or intravenous—sedation. This means that needle is inserted into the vein, similar to what some have experienced during hospitalization, and the anesthetic is drip-fed directly into the bloodstream. With this type of sedation, patients literally nap and then wake up, and the treatment is over. Obviously, for people with a fear of needles, this may cause some issues, but there are other important considerations as well.

It’s Like Surgery

If you choose to go with sedation dentistry in Long Island, you’ll need to make the same preparations the night before surgery, including fasting. You’ll need to provide a medical history, accurate height and weight, full disclosure of medications you may be taking, as well as consumption of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs to ensure a safe administration of the anesthetic. If none of this is a problem for you, then consider this alternative for your next major dental procedure.