Are There Side Effects From Visiting a Sleep Dentist?

As a sleep dentist, we make comfortable dental treatments possible.  Our approach to dental care makes it easy for people to have their oral health challenges addressed without fear or anxiety.  In fact, many people that come to us for dental care, have avoided visiting the dentist for years due to severe anxiety.  Our ability to use sedation and put patients to sleep makes it possible for these individuals to receive the care that they need and have been avoiding.

Given the positive impact that sedation or sleep dentistry can have, we often work with patients of other dentists as well.  During the initial consultation, we will examine teeth and gums to determine what oral health problems exist before making a plan for how to treat them. During this initial appointment, we will also discuss sedation and what can be expected from it.  Some of the questions that we regularly hear revolve around what possible side effects sleep dentistry may have.
With that in mind, here is what you need to know:

There are typically very few side effects.  Most people can handle sedation without any problems.  However, any time that you visit the dentist, it is important to discuss any allergies or other health problems that you have so that we can take those facts into consideration when planning for your dental treatments.  As a sleep dentist, we may recommend, for example, that a diabetic delay treatment until their blood sugar is under control.

You shouldn't eat for twelve hours beforehand.  This is true for any time that you receive sedation whether it is in our dental office or at the hospital.  Making sure that you have an empty stomach, prevents the risk of accidentally choking.

You may feel thirsty afterwards.  In fact, most people do.  We recommend that you continue to drink a lot of water while recovering.  The easiest way to do so is to buy a water bottle with a straw.  Since your mouth may be sore, this can be a preferred method of drinking.  Be sure to remain hydrated during your recovery.

It is normal to feel drowsy afterwards.  As a sleep dentist, we will monitor you while you are waking up to ensure that you come out of the sedation without any issues.  We do not, however, recommend that you drive home.  Instead, have someone take you to your appointment and pick you up so that you can get home safely.  Driving while drowsy is incredibly dangerous and can increase your risk of getting into a car wreck.  Avoid this situation by planning ahead.
You will need rest.  We recommend that you plan on resting for twelve hours following your procedure.  Watch some movies, read a good book, or go to sleep.  Since sedation can make you drowsy, this may happen naturally anyway and sleep is one way that the body recharges so that you can heal faster.

As a sleep dentist, we find very few, if any, side effects from sedation and recommend that you schedule a consultation to discuss any further questions you may have.

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What You Can Expect From a Sleep Dentist

You may wonder the pros of sleep dentistry, we can tell you what you can expect from a licensed and experienced sleep dentist. The phrase sleep dentistry gets tossed around a lot, but most people are inaccurately identifying what it means. A true sleep dentist can actually be very hard to find, but we offer first rate sleep dentistry. Sleep dentists often get confused with lighter sedation dentists, but they are not the same. Our sleep dentistry provides actual sleep sedation, in addition to other sedation methods. If you want all the options possible, our dentist office can provide quality care.

Normal sedation is commonly limited to light levels of sedation like those attained with Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) or benzodiazepines to be taken beforehand. These methods offer a calming and relaxing effect in a conscious state. This is preferred by some, but during these sedative methods you will still need local anesthesia for areas that are being worked on. When you need a more complicated procedure done, or you suffer from intense anxiety or dental phobia, you will want and need a deep sleep sedation.

As a sleep dentist, we will provide you with an unconscious sedation during the whole length of whatever procedure or oral surgery you are undergoing, whether is it getting dental implants or having your wisdom teeth removed among many others. This unconscious sedation will be administered through an IV. Although you can also be consciously sedated through an IV, our safe and monitored unconscious IV sedation provides unbeatable comfort during any procedure. Depending on your level of sedation, IV sedation can also be called general anesthesia.

The benefits of visiting a sleep dentist are extensive. Firstly, you will not require additional local anesthesia in most cases. This eliminates the hassles of misplaced numbing or the need of additional numbing throughout your procedure, creating a smoother process. During unconscious sedation, you will not recall anything that takes place during your procedure. This eliminates all chances of having a traumatic experience or being in any state of discomfort. If you remember anything, it will extremely limited and it will not include feelings of discomfort. We will also be able to accomplish more during a shorter period of time since you will be very still during your sedation. This will create a more efficient procedure and lead to less chair time and follow up visits for you to schedule. You will be monitored closely so there will be no chance of you waking up during your procedure. This will also put your fears at rest

We can help you avoid any unpleasantries during your dental visits. As a sleep dentist, we will help you to relax knowing that you won’t have to endure a complex procedure consciously. If you have a severe dental phobia, our sleep dentist will ensure that you have a supportive and relaxed visit. Whatever your reasons may be, we encourage you to try a qualified sleep dentist for your sleep sedation. This way you can ensure that your dental procedure is completed while you are entirely comfortable and unaware of what is happening.  By the time you wake up, we will be finished and you will be on the road to recovery.