Sedation Dentistry
Sedation is widely recognized as a treatment for anxious or fearful dental patients. This involves the use of medication that relaxes your body & mind.
The most common form of sedation is conscious sedation, which allows you to be awake & able to communicate with the dentist. You will not sleep through your procedure, but you will feel drowsy, calm & comfortable. Though you will be awake, you may have trouble remembering details about your appointment. In fact, you may not remember any of it!
There are three types of conscious sedation available to dentists: nitrous oxide gas, oral (pill) sedation & intravenous (IV) sedation.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Do you struggle to go to the dentist? Does the thought of being in a dental chair fill you with dread? Have bad experiences in the past caused you to avoid or miss recent dental appointments? You are not alone. Millions of patients worldwide share the same fear of dental work. Fortunately, we can help.
At our practice, you don’t need to suffer in silence & neglect your oral health. We offer sedation dentistry to patients of all ages with different levels of anxiety, ranging from mild nervousness to extreme phobias. It is our belief that your comfort at the dentist is essential to maintaining your dental hygiene.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas”, is the lightest form of sedation. It is given to patients through a small mask that covers the nose. It works almost instantly, & the dentist can precisely adjust the amount of gas you are breathing whenever you need more or less. The biggest advantage of nitrous oxide is that once the dentist turns it off, you’ll be back to normal within a few minutes! You will be able to drive home after your appointment is over. Side effects are rare, but most often include nausea, headaches & dizziness.