We know that going to the dentist can be frightening for some individuals. It’s called dental phobia, and it’s something millions of Americans experience. At our practice, we use sedation to help our patients feel anxiety-free and relaxed during their treatment. If you suffer from dental phobia, we may recommend one of several types of sedation after reviewing your medical history.
There are several reasons to use nitrous oxide (commonly called laughing gas) rather than complete sedation. It has been the primary way that doctors have helped relieve patients from anxiety. The gas is administered through a face mask, and you inhale it through your nose. As the anesthetic begins to work, you’ll feel a bit groggy and desensitized. Patients who choose to use nitrous are able to resume normal daily activities by the time the treatment is finished.
The next level of sedation is oral sedation, which does not require the use of needles. There are a variety of different medications that we provide here at Powell Family Dentistry. It will be up to your medical history and the recommendation of our doctors to decide which one will be your best choice. Oral sedation requires that you have a ride home from your appointment. You’ll want to have a trustworthy family member or friend take you home.
IV Sedation is a stronger form of sedation. If we recommend this type of sedation, they would administer a liquid sedative through an IV directly into the patient’s bloodstream. Like oral sedation, IV sedation requires that you have a ride home from your appointment.
No matter what your dental experience has been in the past, we are confident that your experience here at Powell Family Dentistry will be a comfortable and anxiety-free one. If you suffer from dental anxiety, please contact us.
We’re confident we have a solution that will relieve you of dental anxiety and help your experience here at Powell Family Dentistry be pleasant.