I’m scheduled to have a procedure which I only think I could do with dental sedation. Today, I heard a news blurb that said sedation will be safer in 2019 because of the change in laws. Now I’m wondering if I should wait to have my procedure done until it’s safer. I don’t want to put myself at risk unnecessarily.
Sara L.
Dear Sara,
My assumption is you live in California. Each state’s dental laws are different. The only changes in laws which I can tell are changing in 2019 are from California. However, the changes they’re making are not going to affect you, unless of course, you’re a minor.
The majority of the changes impact anesthesia for kids. For example, if a sedation dentist treats a child under age seven, he will have to have three people present, including an anesthesia provider who will monitor the patient’s vitals the entire time. When a child under age 11 is being treated, there will need to be two people present.
The thing to consider is whether this actually makes any positive difference. It won’t. In fact, many tend to think it will have a negative impact. Here’s why.
There are already laws and protocols which dentists have to follow which make sedation safe. There is always someone in the office who can handle any emergencies which arise. The only thing it does is require dentists to have more people present in the room, which will cost the dentist more. That cost will be passed onto the patient.
Any added costs in treatment can make it difficult for low-income patients to have access to. So, while a child from a wealthier family will not likely feel the difference, another family who struggles to pay for dental care, to begin with, will have to come up with more money for the same procedure without it making a lick of positive difference to their child. It’s an unnecessary demand on families already struggling.
Don’t Put off Your Sedation
Aside from the fact that the new law will have no impact on you, there is another important reason not to put off your dental care. You didn’t mention what procedure you’re having done, but there are dental conditions which get worse over time. Putting it off can put your life in danger.
Let’s say you have an infected tooth which can’t be saved and needs to be extracted. If you wait, that infection will spread. Your jaw is very close to both your heart and brain. If the infection spreads to those, you have a dental emergency that can now take your life. People still die from tooth infections.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Steven Collins.