Are you a dental chicken?

Among the most common reasons individuals do not receive adequate dental care is the fear and discomfort that is often associated with dental appointments. At Essential Dental Care, we believe that anxiety or fear of pain should never be a factor when it comes to your health, and we are committed to helping our patients feel comfortable every step of the way.  Sedation dentistry is also great for patients that need multiple procedures or have little time to visit the dentist all the time.  A sedation appointment can last longer and more work can be done in one sitting vs. multiple sittings.

There are various forms of sedation that can be administered:

Inhalation sedation is one of the more common forms, it is the use of nitrous oxide – more commonly known as “laughing gas”.

Oral sedation is a mild form of sedation dentistry that can be used for nearly any dental procedure. Patients are advised to take a pill about 40 minutes before their appointment time, so that they are in a relaxed state during treatment. Benefits of oral sedation include:

• Provides complete relaxation
• Patients remain conscious
• No needles are used

Intravenous sedation is a deeper form of sedation that is typically used during more invasive procedures. During intravenous sedation, relaxation drugs are administered to the patient through an intravenous needle. Some benefits of intravenous sedation include:

• Patients remain awake, but in a dream-like state
• Virtually no memory of the procedure
• Works almost immediately
• Can be used for lengthy procedures
• Can be altered during the procedure

It is important to note that patients who receive oral or I.V. sedation may need to arrange transportation to and from their dental appointment, as they may be disoriented for a short period of time following treatment.