There are many reasons why your Long Island periodontist will prescribe medication. In the first place, the visit to the clinic indicates a potential issue with dental health. After examining and diagnosis, your periodontist may request you to take on pills due maybe to infection, inflammation, pain or perhaps sedation. Some patients, though, usually do not ask for or need prescription until they’re facing the possibility of surgery. So when they do, they more often than not request sedatives.
What medications, then are suggested by the Long Island periodontist for sedation? In surgery, dentists introduce medicine not only to alleviate the pain which accompanies the treatment but also to help with patient anxiety. It is normal for people to experience fear of dentists, even if only for schedule visit. The anxiety worsens if there’s a need for surgery. In cases like this, dentists can provide sedatives for patients to stay comfortable during the procedure, and most importantly, to be pain-free. This is also called relaxation dentistry, anxiety-free dentistry or comfortable dentistry. Dentists will determine which type of sedative is suitable for a particular condition.
Among the sedatives going around in the market, probably the most commonly known are the following: 1) Valium, also known as Diazepam, which has been used since the 1960s, is among the most well known sedative and it is very useful in situations when extensive dentistry will be performed on the patient; 2) Halcion, or Triazolam, is well-known for the treatment of sleeplessness but is another powerful drug that can be used in combination with any antihistamine to have the same effect as Valium, however for less severe cases; 3) Sonata, which is also more or less similar to Valium and Halcion but the patient won’t be in extended sleep and definitely will only be relaxed during the entire treatment; 4) Ativan, is the famous drug that treats anxiety. It is very helpful for appointments that last for hours; 5) Vistaril or Hydroxyzine are classified as an antihistamine. It is also for fighting anxiety used in combination with benzodiazepines. It has no amnesic properties; 6) Versed is the drug suggested for short appointments and easy procedures. It offers anti-anxiety and amnesic properties. Out of all these drugs, it’s always best to consult with your Long Island periodontist before agreeing to get administered such.
Aside from the sedatives, there are also prescribed drugs for swelling, for pain, for infection and other cases like tooth decay, xerostomia, muscle pain or oral thrush. Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to address the discomfort accompanying the redness on the mouth and gums. These may be obtained with prescription only or over-the-counter. They often come as pastes under brand names such as Kenalog, Orabase or Mortin. Anesthesia either local or general, nitrous oxide and sedation administered intravenously are all provided to help dull the discomfort and fear during dental procedures. They usually are on the market as sprays, pastes, gels, lozenges, ointments and solutions. Antiseptics can also be prescribed by the dentist to help reduce plaque, gingivitis and also to kill germs that could cause stinky breath.
Before you go to your Long Island periodontist, it doesn’t hurt to equip yourself with this knowledge about prescription drugs so your routine visit to the dentist or needed surgery for the dental condition is like a walk-in-the-park.