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Managing Dental Phobia Through Sedation Dentistry

Dental phobia is very common and often leads to patients avoiding necessary maintenance and procedures. Unfortunately, these habits can have a significant impact on the patients’ oral health. At Affordable Smiles, the comfort and needs of our patients are of the utmost importance. We offer both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation dentistry. This helps improve the experience of our patients with anxieties as well as those who may need to undergo multiple treatments in one day.

Improving Procedure Comfort & Efficiency

The use of sedation can create a more comfortable experience for the patient which is very beneficial when multiple procedures are being performed at once. When you are relaxed, our doctors can perform each treatment much more efficiently. It has also been proven that patients under sedation typically require a shorter recovery time and have a lower risk for complications.

Who Can Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?

While sedation can make dental procedures more comfortable for any patient, it can also offer significant advantages to certain patients, including those who suffer from:

  • Dental phobia
  • Involuntary gag reflex
  • Painful medical conditions
  • Low pain tolerance
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Claustrophobia
A patient smiling at the dentist | Sedation dentistry
Dentist and patient in dentist office

Children are often provided sedation during their procedures to manage their fear and to allow the doctor to complete the treatment as quickly as possible. Additionally, senior patients who may have difficulty sitting in one position for an extended period of time may also benefit from sedation dentistry.

The Dangers of Neglecting Dental Care

Dental phobia can prevent patients from receiving crucial treatments at the detriment to their health. Neglecting damaged teeth, gum disease, or other issues can not only affect the surrounding teeth but your overall health as well. In some cases, severe infection originating in the mouth can spread into the bloodstream, increasing the likelihood of serious conditions including stroke and heart attack.

 

Types of Sedation We Offer

We offer nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. In many cases, especially when patients are receiving multiple consecutive procedures, our doctors may combine both methods of sedation. He can safely provide this service without the need to use needles.

Nitrous Oxide Oral Sedation

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is combined with oxygen and administered using a face mask through which the patient can inhale the gas. Our doctors will control the level of sedation throughout the procedure.

This form of sedation can depress sensations, including touch and pain, which allows patients to relax during treatment. Typically, patients experience feelings of euphoria, warmth, or sleepiness. This is the lightest level of sedation offered, and patients can safely drive themselves home after as the effects of the gas wear off—typically within five minutes.

We offer sedation dentistry including, nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, to improve the experience of our patients with anxieties as well as those who may need to undergo multiple treatments in one day.

Oral conscious sedation is a pill that is taken 30 minutes to an hour prior to your procedure. As a deeper level of sedation, patients are nearly asleep but are still able to respond to necessary commands from Dr. Booty. It is important that patients arrange a ride home from their appointment if they will be undergoing oral conscious sedation, as they may still be groggy or tired after their procedure.

Interested in your sedation options for your next procedure? Speak to a member of our team at any of our Gulf Coast locations:

 

 

Comfortable, Trustworthy Care

For over 20 years, Affordable Smiles has been providing sedation dentistry services to our patients to ensure that they have the best experience possible. We want to help you maintain your oral health in a safe, trusting environment. To learn more about managing your dental phobia with Affordable Smiles, contact us today.