If you’ve been putting off a visit to the dentist for years or even decades because you are afraid of the dentist or had a bad dental experience in the past, sedation dentistry might be a good option for you.
Sedation dentistry uses different levels of sedatives so that you can get your dental work done in a much more relaxing and calm way.
The sedation options vary by state and training of the dentist. At [practice name] in [state], we are happy to provide the options below to our patients:
- Nitrous oxide is more commonly known as “laughing gas,” and it’s a great choice for patients who need just a little extra help with feeling comfortable in the dentist’s chair. Patients inhale the gas through a mask that fits over the nose, and once it’s removed, the effects go away within minutes. This means you can even drive yourself home from your appointment!
- Oral conscious sedation is a more moderate sedation where patients are provided with a prescription and instructed to take it at a certain time before their appointment. Once the effects take hold, you should enter a deep state of relaxation while still remaining aware enough to respond to Dr. [last name]’s requests.
- IV sedation is a more advanced form of sedation that’s administered intravenously. This allows our team to control the dosage amount more easily and ensure that you’re completely at ease. Dr. [last name] has undergone advanced training in dental anesthesiology, and she’s fully licensed and certified to provide IV sedation and the rest of these helpful techniques in [state].
What To Expect
The effects of sedation will vary depending on the option you chose.
We nitrous oxide, we turn on the gas and within minutes you will feel a warm and tingling sensation in the hands and toes. You may also feel light, like you are floating. Depending on the level of anxiety you feel, this can be used for anything from cleanings to complex surgeries.
With oral conscious sedation, you will become completely relaxed and anxiety free. Some people fall asleep, and some don’t. If you don’t, it will feel like the time flies by and you will not feel any pain. The medications also have an amnesia-like effect, and often the patient can’t remember the appointment over the next few days, even if they were partially awake during it.
With IV sedation, you will not be aware of the surgery and will have no memory of the whole procedure afterwards! This option is great for patients with a lot of anxiety around dentistry or for more involved procedures like wisdom teeth removal.
Is sedation dentistry right for you?
If you want to learn more about sedation dentistry, start by going here to learn if sedation dentistry might be right for you > [sedationdentistryquiz]
Dr. [last name] has extensive training in sedation dentistry and can help you determine if it’s a good option for you.