Available Types of Sedation for Your Ridgefield Oral Surgery

Sedation dentistry is used to make your oral surgery experience easier and safer. Different levels of sedation are used for different purposes and they provide comfort and ease dental anxiety. Oral surgery may take several hours, depending on the treatment being administered, so talk to Dr. Ritzcovan about your Ridgefield oral surgery appointment when the time comes. We’ll provide information about what your unique experience will be like and how sedation dentistry is used to improve your procedure.

Methods of sedation vary depending on the severity of the treatment being administered. Light sedation, such as nitrous oxide, is used to relax the patient. Nitrous oxide, otherwise called laughing gas, provides a happy and relaxed sensation and causes light-headedness. This light-headedness lifts as soon as the patient breathes regular oxygen. Oral sedation is also available to relax patients and alleviate pain associated with your Ridgefield oral surgery. Oral sedatives are used as a minimal sedation method prescribed by Dr. Ritzcovan. Medications may also be provided to help a patient through the healing process after their surgery is complete.

A more advanced level of sedation is IV sedation, which also varies in strength. Some IV sedation may keep you in a “twilight” state that keeps the patient awake but under a sort of spell. This helps patients feel relaxed for the duration of the procedure. You will not be able to smell, taste, or see clearly while under IV sedation. Your surroundings will be distorted but you will feel an overall sense of calmness and relaxation. This form of sedation may leave you feeling groggy, so we recommend having someone else drive you home after the procedure.

A more advanced level of sedation is general anesthesia. This is administered through IV sedation or it may be inhaled through breathing. This puts the patient to sleep for the duration of their Ridgefield oral surgery. This type of sedation requires the patient to have someone to drive them home after treatment. Avoid strenuous activity, drinking alcohol, and unapproved medications after surgery. Talk to our team if you have any questions regarding general anesthesia for your procedure.

There are several different types of procedures that could require the use of sedation dentistry. Wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common oral surgeries performed, typically when a patient is in their late teens or early twenties. This is because wisdom teeth are typically impacted or may cause oral health issues for the surrounding healthy teeth. Tooth extractions, bone grafting, gum grafting, emergency dental surgeries, and jaw surgeries are also common oral surgeries. Sedation makes these procedures easier and more comfortable for the patient.

To learn more about sedation is used to improve your Ridgefield oral surgery experience, talk to our team at Hometown Family Dentistry. We’ll help you understand what type of sedation methods would be right for your procedure. Call our office at (203) 431-3901 to talk about your treatment.