Sedation Dentistry
Being put to sleep, anesthetized, sedated... whatever you want to call it, sedation dentistry is often the answer for patients who are afraid of the dentist, or for complicated dental surgery procedures. Let's face it, even if your whole jaw is numb, nobody wants to stair at a cheesy picture of the Rocky Mountains or Hawaiian Islands for three hours while a hairy-nosed doctor and his dental technician lean over with their hands in your mouth.
Imagine just going to sleep and waking up to find the procedure finished. That is what sedation dentistry offers! However, understand that being anesthetized can be dangerous. Any time you are put to sleep for an operation or surgical procedure there are risks, including death. This is why sedation dentists need to be licensed by their State to perform general anesthesia. If your dentist is not licensed to perform general anesthesia, do NOT let them put you to sleep.
With that said, sedation dentistry is generally considered safe and a welcome alternative for patients undergoing complicated dental procedures and/or patients who are afraid of the dentist.
You can read more about the different types of sedation at Pleasant Dentistry.