Dental Phobia? Find Out How Sedation Dentistry Can Help
If the thought of plopping down in a dentist’s chair sends chills down your spine and makes you tense up with fear, you’re not alone. Surveys estimate that between 13% and 24% of adults fear going to the dentist. Many people with this fear would rather suffer with a toothache or severe oral infection than visit the dentist for treatment, and many who fear going to the dentist also choose to live with aesthetic imperfections that could easily be corrected with simple cosmetic dentistry services.
If you, like so many others, avoid getting the dental treatment you need because it causes too much anxiety, then sedation dentistry is for you. What is sedation dentistry? It’s regular dentistry without the anxiety.
It’s Actually Possible to Relax at the Dentist’s Office
Sedation dentistry uses various forms and levels of medication to help patients relax during all types of dental appointments from routine examinations and cleanings to fillings, root canals, and extractions.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
Minimal Sedation
Minimal sedation uses nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to relax the patient. Administered in the dentist’s chair, inhaled nitrous oxide helps a patient feel calm while allowing them to remain completely conscious and awake. Patients will be able to communicate and will remember the appointment.
Moderate Sedation
Moderate sedation is the most commonly used form of sedation dentistry. Moderate sedation is typically achieved with a prescription oral sedative (like Valium) that’s taken prior to the patient’s appointment. Patients become deeply relaxed, might not be able to speak clearly, and won’t remember much of the appointment.
Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia
Patients are either near unconscious or completely under. These forms of sedation dentistry are administered by an anesthesiologist with intravenous (IV) mediations and are usually reserved for lengthy, invasive procedures, such as having multiple teeth extracted.
Schedule a Free Sedation Dentistry Appointment in La Mesa
At Cardinal Dental in La Mesa, we offer patients free oral sedation dental appointments. We want all of our patients to get the dental care they need to safeguard the health of their teeth or to be able to get the smile they’ve always wanted — without stress or fear. When you schedule a sedation dentistry appointment, Dr. Paul Michels will call in a prescription sedative for you to take prior to your appointment at no extra charge.
We do ask that all sedation dentistry patients arrange transportation to and from their appointments, as traveling alone is not recommended for a patient who has been sedated.
To find out whether sedation dentistry is right for you or to schedule your next dental appointment, contact our La Mesa dental clinic today.
