Relax at the Dentist? Yes, You Can!
Fear of the dentist is real–and not only among children. Studies show that up to 75% of Americans experience some level of dental phobia. For some, this leads to putting off needed dental work and decreasing dental health.
Thankfully, there’s a great solution: Sedation Dentistry.
Read on to learn more about great sedation options that can help make the dentist’s chair a relaxing place to be!
WHAT IS SEDATION DENTISTRY?
Sedation dentistry helps you feel calm and at ease during dental procedures by using inhaled, intravenous or very rarely oral sedation. You may have heard it referred to as “sleep dentistry”, but that’s not entirely accurate.
During sedation dentistry, you are awake, but you feel carefree and comfortable, and may experience short-term amnesia without loss of consciousness. Sometimes this is referred to as “twilight sleep”.
Nederland Family Dental in Nederland TX offers these sedation options. The best option will depend upon your preferences, needs, and medical history.
- Nitrous Oxide (Inhaled minimal sedation)
This is often called “laughing gas”. With this option, our Nederland Family Dental tam places a mask over your nose and gives you a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide. We monitor your level of sedation through the procedure, and adjust as needed.
The advantage to this is that it’s minimally invasive and the effects tend to wear off quickly after the procedure. Patients are able to drive themselves home after a nitrous oxide sedation procedure. Many of our nervous patients choose to use this during their dental cleaning appointments.
- IV Sedation
With IV sedation, a trained staff member will numb you with a local anesthetic and then start an IV line. Then you’ll receive the sedative through your vein, which quickly goes to work and keeps working until your procedure is done.
The benefit to IV sedation is that it works immediately and can be continuously monitored by our sedation expert, Dr. Gomez. He has completed hundreds of hours of training in order to provide this option to our community.
If you have a lengthy or difficult procedure planned, this means you can ensure your total comfort and relaxation for the full duration without having the interruptions of a nitrous oxide mask or worrying about a sedative pill wearing off partway through. It also means the minute the procedure is done, the sedative drip will be shut off, which adds more control to starting your recovery time.
IS SEDATION DENTISTRY SAFE?
When you receive sedation at Nederland Family Dental, you will be monitored by trained medical professionals. We’ll make sure you’re comfortable and doing well.
But sedation dentistry safety hinges on how well you know and follow recovery instructions.
Here are some general recovery guidelines to keep in mind:
- Recovery takes time. You may need to stay at our office for some time following the procedure so we can monitor your recovery. This usually doesn’t take long, but sometimes a patient is lightheaded and drowsy for a few hours.
- Make sure you have someone accompany you home. If possible, have them stay and supervise you during recovery.
- Rest until the day after the procedure. This means avoiding driving, exercising, working, or cooking. Stay away from sharp utensils or heat sources, and avoid making major decisions like financial transactions.
DENTAL SEDATION–NOT JUST FOR ANXIETY!
Sedation dentistry can make a huge difference for those experiencing anxiety–but you don’t have to have dental phobia to benefit from it. Many patients find that sedation helps them have a more positive, productive experience at the dentist.
Dental sedation is a great choice for people who:
- are anxious
- have developmental delays
- have a low pain threshold or who metabolize anesthetics very quickly
- can’t easily sit still
- have sensitive teeth
- have an easily triggered gag reflex
- need multiple or long procedures
- are very busy and need to get more dental work done at once
Dental sedation does need recovery time, but it also can save you time because your dental team can get so much more done while you’re relaxed in the chair.
WHICH SEDATION OPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
There are varying levels of sedation dentistry based on your unique needs. Factors include your level of anxiety, the length of your procedure, your health history and personal preferences.
Nederland Family Dental is committed to keeping you comfortable and healthy. You can speak to our friendly staff and share your concerns. We’ll figure out the best dental sedation option for you.
Contact us today to learn more!
