When people visit the dentist to undergo a procedure, sometimes, they may need local anesthesia to eliminate the pain. Others need treatment to calm the fears that may accompany procedures. This treatment is called sedation, and it allows dentists to create a state of relaxation and manage the fear that some patients may experience.

According to an article in the December 2007 issue of AGD Impact, the monthly newsmagazine of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), there are several different types of sedation in dentistry, and the use of each depends on the patient's needs. Whenever a patient is notified that they need a procedure that requires some form of anesthesia, they should discuss local, minimal, moderate and deep sedation so that they are aware of what is involved with each type.

•  The type of sedation a patient needs is determined by the dentist and is individualized.
•  Different levels of sedation require different medications.
•  Dentists who are trained in sedation administer the medication, making the process very safe.

"The level of sedation that a patient needs is individualized and based on their level of anxiety and their response to a particular level of sedation," says Jim Richeson, DDS, FAGD, AGD spokesperson and a past president of the AGD. "Some will respond fine to a minimal level of sedation, whereas others will not respond similarly and may require a deeper level of sedation. Patients should talk to their dentist about their treatment."

Some people may be confused by or nervous about the many options, but Dr. Richeson assures that dentists trained in sedation are highly skilled. "With proper training, sedation is very safe. It can be used as often as patients need it."