Do you get nervous at the thought of going to the dental office? This is a lot more common than you may think. In fact, over 30 million Americans experience stress related to the dentist. The good news is that this doesn’t mean that you need to avoid dental care forever. There are several sedation options available to help even the more fearful patients get the care they need without all of the stress. Here are the different sedation options to choose from.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
This sedation method uses a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen to help the patient feel more relaxed. More commonly known by the name “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide sedation is safe and effective for relaxing patients. It can even be used to help children feel more relaxed when they require dental work. If you opt for this method, your dental team will give you a mask to wear over the duration of your treatment. You will inhale the mixture of gas through the mask. It doesn’t have any taste or odor, and you will remain conscious throughout the procedure. The best part about nitrous oxide sedation is that the effects wear off quickly. You can even drive yourself home from your procedure!
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation helps to receive anxiety in the form of pills. If you opt for this method, your dentist will prescribe you a small pill to take approximately an hour before your procedure. By the time your appointment begins, you will feel perfectly relaxed. Just like with nitrous oxide sedation, you will remain conscious throughout the duration of your procedure, so you will still be able to answer questions and follow the instructions of the dental team. However, many patients don’t remember much of their treatment afterward. The effects of oral conscious sedation can linger for several hours, so you will need to arrange for a trusted friend to drive you to and from your appointment.
Which Sedation Method Is Best?
Dentists typically recommend sedation options for patients based on several factors, like their anxiety levels, pain tolerance, and tooth sensitivity. Sedation is also a great option for those who are undergoing long and complex procedures, those with sensitive gag reflexes, and those who struggle to sit still in the treatment chair. If you have mild to moderate dental anxiety, nitrous oxide sedation may be an ideal way to reduce your nerves. However, if you have moderate to severe dental anxiety, oral conscious sedation may be a more effective option.
If you struggle with dental anxiety, you don’t need to let it influence your oral health. By discussing your concerns with your dental team and going over your sedation options, you can find the solution to best meet your unique needs.
About the Practice
At Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry, Dr. Eric L. Townsend and Dr. Kristopher R. Harth work together to treat patients in the Ponte Vedra Beach community. They know that seeing the dentist is a task that is easier said than done for many patients, so they are happy to office nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation to relieve dental anxiety and phobia. To learn more about sedation dentistry or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (904) 285-7711.