Most patients with severe gag reflex dread or avoid going to the dentist. If you have an oversensitive gag reflex, a Mechanicsville sedation endodontist can help you relax in the dental chair and receive the care you need.
What You Should Know About Severe Gag Reflex
What Is Severe Gag Reflex?
The gag reflex, or pharyngeal spasm, is your body’s way of protecting you from swallowing foreign objects that may block your windpipe. When you gag, your pharynx contracts while your larynx pushes up to close off entry to your throat. This involuntary response is usually triggered by an object touching the back of your tongue, the roof of your mouth, the back of your throat, or the area around your tonsils.
Patients who struggle with oversensitive gag reflex experience problems when brushing their teeth or visiting the dentist. As a result, many of them miss out on preventive and restorative dental care benefits.
How Can Dental Sedation Help Patients With Severe Gag Reflex?
If you have an exaggerated gag reflex, sedation methods may be what you need to help you get through your dental treatment without discomfort. Sedation dentistry comes in different levels:
- Minimal Sedation
Minimal sedation is an excellent option for patients sensitive to medications or anesthesia. Your dental care provider will place a small mask on your nose to help you breathe in laughing gas or nitrous oxide. Besides reducing pain, this colorless and odorless gas can also help you relax and control your gag reflex while you’re getting dental work done.
- Moderate Sedation
Your endodontist may recommend moderate sedation if minimal sedation isn’t enough to ease your discomfort. You have to take an oral sedative about half an hour before your appointment. Although you may feel drowsy or fall asleep during treatment, you’ll be able to wake up quickly.
- Deep Sedation
If you’re worried about sedation effects wearing off too quickly, you’ll benefit from deep sedation. Your endodontist administers medications through a needle inserted into a vein in your arm or hand. They’ll monitor your vitals during treatment and control the amount of sedative infused as needed.
The Best Mechanicsville Sedation Dentist
At Commonwealth Endodontics, we’re here to provide you with the highest level of endodontic care in a safe and comfortable environment. Call now to make an appointment.