Fear of the dentist! Vertical photo of a little boy sits in a dentist's office wearing a nasal mask breathing nitrous oxide to relax. Concept of feeling relaxed with laughing gas.
When do we recommend a calming treatment for our patients? For many, this is when they are undergoing a more extensive treatment, such as dental implant placement. This could also help when patients are undergoing jawbone grafting or the pinhole gum grafting procedure. We could also prescribe this for patients with dental anxiety, which could make it difficult to undergo even minor procedures otherwise. Sedation also aids patients with special needs too. We want you to enjoy a positive experience in our office, and we can help using our calming medications!
We have three different options available for our patients, so how do we choose one for you? We will take a number of different factors into account, including age, weight, medical history, and any medications currently being taken. Our team could also look at the treatments being offered, and overall anxiety levels too.
Now, let’s talk about our calming agents. The most common is a mild form known as nitrous oxide. This is given through a mask over the nose. The patient breathes in a gas and enters a deep state of calm, often with little memory of the procedure despite being conscious and able to respond to the dentist as needed. We can adjust levels during the procedure, and the effects wear off once the treatment ends. You can even drive yourself home or return to work or school!
Should you require a deeper state of calm, we could offer oral sedation in a pill or liquid form prior to the procedure. Patients remain conscious but have no memory of the procedure, and the effects take time to wear off completely, so someone needs to be on hand to bring you home.
The deepest form available is IV sedation, and this helps you enter a deep sleep-like state with little to no memory of the procedure. Again, someone will need to bring you home as the effects take time to wear off. If you have any questions about our dental sedation options, or if you would like to schedule a visit, then contact our team today.
We want to ensure you can receive periodontal treatment and dental implants with comfort! To learn more about ensuring a calm treatment experience, then call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.
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