Eliminating Dental Anxiety With Sedation
You may think that caring for your teeth means brushing twice a day and flossing, but there is more to it than that. Even if you are the most avid and meticulous brusher you can miss areas of dental plaque which will eventually harden into tartar and lead to decay and gingivitis. That's why visiting your dentist every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning is a major part of your oral health care. However, for those people who suffer from dental anxiety, a simple cleaning appointment can cause major panic. That's why we offer sedation to help eliminate your anxiety so you can get the proper care for your teeth.
What is Dental Sedation?
Dental sedation is administered to allow you to experience a pain-free, relaxing dental treatment. We offer three forms of dental sedation: nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and local anesthesia:
Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous oxide is the mildest form of dental sedation, so mild that it can even be administered to children. Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas because it gives you a euphoric feeling while eliminating pain. During administration, you simply breathe normally while wearing a small facemask.
Oral Sedation: Oral sedation is taken in liquid or pill form, the night before the treatment, or about an hour before your treatment begins, and sometimes both. Oral sedation is stronger than nitrous oxide in that it provides a deeper relaxation than nitrous oxide. However, while nitrous oxide wears off immediately, oral sedation generally takes the whole day to wear off.
Local Anesthesia: While local anesthesia is not designed to alleviate anxiety or nervousness, it is often combined with oral sedation or nitrous oxide. While the latter is used to calm your fear and anxiety, the local anesthesia is used to minimize physical discomfort in the specific area of your mouth. It can be applied topically or by injection.