If the thought of a dentist makes you terrified or causes you to panic, it may become difficult for you to seek proper dental treatment. When you ignore dental caries, loose or broken teeth, and other problems, you put your oral health at risk. Don't wait until you have an unbearable toothache or a severe oral health issue before scheduling an appointment.
At Miller Family Dentistry in Nashville TN, we care about your comfort just as much as we care about the quality of dental treatment you receive. We provide sedation dentistry services to patients who may find it challenging to sit through a dental procedure. With sedation dentistry, we can help you relax throughout your dental appointment so you can get the care you need.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses medication to calm and relax patients during a dental appointment. It focuses on relieving stress and pain through sedation. The most common types of sedation dentistry include nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and intravenous (IV) sedation.
One of the significant benefits of sedation dentistry is that it alleviates anxiety and makes it seem like your dental procedure lasts only a few minutes when it might have taken hours to perform.
Types of Sedation Dentistry at Miller Family Dentistry
At Miller Family Dentistry, we provide Nitrous Oxide sedation, also known as conscious sedation. This odorless gas is administered through a comfortable mask placed over your nose. After a few minutes of breathing through your nose, you'll feel your arms and legs get heavy, and you will enter a deep state of relaxation.
While Nitrous Oxide sedation won't put you to sleep, the calming effects can often cause patients to doze off. But don't worry; you'll be easily awakened and able to respond to verbal cues the whole time. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure since it has no lingering side effects, like drowsiness, unlike other sedatives.
Good Candidates for Conscious Oral Sedation
Nearly everyone can benefit from sedation dentistry, but it's especially beneficial for people with:
- Anxious: The most apparent reason for oral sedation dentistry is for people who genuinely fear going to the dentist — and it's not uncommon. Sedation dentistry can often help relieve that anxiety and induce a feeling of relaxation and calmness.
- Low pain threshold: Going to the dentist can be more painful and anxiety-inducing for people with sensitive gums and teeth or other dental problems. If your trips to the dentist are often painful, speak with your dentist to see if conscious oral sedation is the right choice for you.
- Trouble sitting still: Some conditions make it difficult to sit still, making dental procedures uncomfortable. For example, some disabilities also make it stressful or even impossible for patients to sit in one position for a long time. Sedation dentistry is used to calm patients and reduce fidgeting and constant movements.
- Children: One of the significant benefits of sedation dentistry is that it allows children with dental anxiety to undergo procedures that they would otherwise be too nervous to sit through.
- Bad gag reflex: Dental check-ups and procedures can be distressing and uncomfortable if you have a sensitive gag reflex. Sedation can calm the gag reflex and thus contribute to a smoother, more comfortable experience for everyone.
- Undergoing extensive dental work: For prolonged or invasive procedures, sedation may be administered to help manage the pain and allow more work to be done in a single session. This may include procedures like root canal treatment or having a tooth extracted.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Sedation dentistry is generally safe when administered carefully by a qualified dentist. We will consider several factors, including your level of anxiety, the length of your procedure, your health history, and your personal preferences, to provide the right level of sedation based on your unique needs.
Does Sedation Dentistry Work?
Yes, sedation dentistry works and is known to help ease dental anxiety and fear. However, the reality is that not everyone has the same reaction depending on the patient's medical history and the type of dental sedation used.
Sedation Dentist in Nashville
If you battle with dental-related anxiety, need extensive dental work, or need help relaxing to get through your appointment, sedation dentistry from Miller Family Dentistry. We're committed to helping ensure that you have a positive experience when you come for your dental appointment. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!