Is Sedation Dentistry Right For You?
Many Americans have a fear of going to the dentist, to the point that they will not see a dentist for years. Because so many people have a fear of dental treatment, many dentists – including Midland Dental – offer sedation dentistry to ease that anxiety. If you know you need extensive dental work because you have avoided it for a long time, sedation dentistry might be right for you.
Can Sedation Dentistry Help Me?
Sedation dentistry was developed for individuals who have anxiety regarding dental treatment. It can benefit you if you have experienced any of the following:
Unease with the sounds and smells of a dental office
Negative past experiences at dental visits
Sensitive teeth
Low pain threshold
Fear of gagging/choking/pain
Types of Sedation Dentistry
There are multiple methods of sedation dentistry to help an anxious patient relax during treatment, such as:
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas). Administered with a mask, the patient breathes in the nitrous oxide and it makes them feel relaxed right away.
Oral Sedatives. For a longer procedure, your dentist can prescribe a diazepam pill to take an hour before your appointment, which will make you less anxious and a little sleepy.
Intravenous Sedation – Moderate and Deep. This is administered with an injection and will make the patient less conscious of their surroundings (moderate) or completely asleep (deep).
Local Anesthetic. Given with a needle injection, this method is used to numb the mouth or a specific area of the mouth for short, non-invasive treatments.
At Midland Dental, we want all our patients to feel comfortable during treatment. Feel free to call our office if you would like to use sedation dentistry during your next visit!