A visit to the dentist is not an experience that most people look forward to. Dentistry, over the past decades, has become synonymous with anxiety, pain, and discomfort. Every year, millions of people avoid going to the dentist for these reasons. Fortunately, advances in sedation dentistry have made it possible for patients to undergo complex dental procedures while sleeping through their treatment. If you happen to be in the greater Houston, TX area and are looking for safe sedation options that will help get you through your dental surgery, then give our team at Best Dental a call today. Our state of the art dental center provides a relaxing environment for our patients, but we understand that our patients with dental phobia need a little more to relax during their procedures.
In this article, we will go over the various types of sedation options that we offer, and how they can benefit you.
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The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
Most people have some level of anxiety, fear, and trepidation when it comes to visiting their dentist. In some cases, this anxiety becomes so severe that it prevents them from going to the dentist altogether. A lot of our patients have had previous traumatic experiences with other dentists, especially when they were younger. Here are some ways our sedation options can help you:
- Helping you sleep through your dental treatment
- Preventing a sensitive gag reflex
- Patients with difficulty getting numb
- Fear of dental needles
- If you are uneasy hearing sounds of dental drill, and other tools associated with dentistry
Our team at Best Dental offers three main forms of sedation dentistry options; nitrous oxide, oral medication, and I.V. sedation. These techniques can effectively calm anxiety and enhance relaxation while keeping you conscious and in control during your treatment.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is the oldest sedation method currently still used in the dental office. It is a mixed gas that is inhaled through the nose that offers patients a calmer and less stressful experience. The concentration of the gas can be increased or decreased depending on your anxiety level. The great thing about laughing gas is that takes effect quickly, is safe, and patients can quickly recover after the treatment has commenced.
Learn More: Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is a pill taken at a predetermined time prior to your visit allowing you to relax throughout treatment. While patients remain awake during care, they are calmer, more relaxed, and experience significantly reduced discomfort. Due to the long lasting effects of the sedatives, patients need a trusted friend or family member to drive them to and from our office. There are two main medications that trained oral sedation dentists provide: Valium and Halcyon. Both of these medicines can benefit you if you are needing dental care that is causing you to have anxiety.
See Also: Oral Conscious Sedation
Intravenous Sedation
Intravenous sedation uses a small catheter is that placed intravenously to allow sedative medications to be injected directly into your bloodstream. Due to its titration benefits, the level of sedation can be controlled during your procedure allowing you to have a calm, and relaxing time during your dental procedure. This method of sedation is often times known as twilight sedation, and it is the option that the majority of our patients opt for. As with oral conscious sedation, patients will need a trusted friend or family member to drive them to and from our office.
Learn More: IV Sedation
For more information on our sedation offerings at our Houston TX dental office, please call us today.