Appropriately trained dentists and staff can administer different types and levels of sedation
When you contact your dentist with one particular concern, like a toothache, chipped or lost tooth, or a sore spot on the gums, the dentist typically focuses attention only on that concern. Unlike a regularly scheduled exam, the dentist generally will not examine all of your teeth. The dentist may perform diagnostic services, like X-rays, or some type of treatment at the same appointment. Depending on the problem, and the complexity of necessary treatment, you may need to return for additional procedures at another time.
The process of reducing pain sensation during dental procedures occurs through the use of a local anesthetic. A local anesthetic is a medication that blocks nerve signals and temporarily causes a lack of pain sensation in a small area.
Some local anesthetics also contain ingredients to control localized bleeding for surgical procedures. These ingredients also help to keep the local anesthetic confined to the area of the dental procedure.