Millions of people are scared to go to the dentist. If you are one of those that have had a traumatic dental experience, can you really imagine not being afraid?
You can have a positive dental experience. With anxiolysis, commonly known as sedation dentistry, you will be so relaxed that you may not even remember your appointment. One of our current patient’s comments, “I would recommend Dr. Collins to anyone that is afraid of the dentist. I had a root canal and I didn’t feel a thing. What a great experience!”
Anxiolysis Techniques
Sedation dentistry applications have been used safely for over 30 years with countless dental procedures. Before starting any type of anxiolysis treatment, we review your medical history and explain how it can work for you. We want you to be comfortable and feel good about moving past your dental anxiety and towards a healthy smile.
In our office we have two basic levels of sedation that we offer. The first treatment is called oral sedation. This simply involves taking a pill prior to your dental appointment. On the day of your visit, you’ll take the medication triazolam or valium. It will make you a bit sleepy, relaxed, and indifferent to the dental work being administered. This is not like general anesthesia where you will be unconscious. Your protective reflexes like breathing and coughing will be completely functional.
As an added safety precaution, our experienced clinical team will make certain that you’re comfortable and we will actively monitor you very closely while you are sedated. Many patients feel no discomfort whatsoever during and after treatment, and have little or no memory of the visit. If you decide to try oral sedation, you will need to have someone drive you to and from your dental appointment. With the medication, it will not be safe for you to drive home.
Nitrous oxide is a milder form of sedation dentistry that we use. It is a relaxant gas that is commonly known as laughing gas. A small mask is placed over your nose and mouth and the effects take place almost immediately. There are no side effects with this treatment. The dentist can adjust the level of nitrous oxide throughout the treatment and you will be completely coherent and able to communicate with your dentist throughout the appointment. When the gas is stopped, it will only take a couple of minutes for it to wear off. You will be fine to drive home from your appointment and go about your day normally. To learn more, please visit our nitrous oxide page.
Benefits of a Sedation Dentist
With sedation dentistry, even patients that have feared the dentist for decades will be able to handle routine visits with little or no anxiety. If you need to undergo multiple procedures, it will enable the dentist to work more quickly, for a longer time period, and may reduce the number of visits you require.
When it’s all said and done, you’ll be able to smile with confidence and chew your food without pain. If you’ve been putting off years of dental work, a trip to the sedation dentist can truly change your quality of life.