If you experience fear or anxiety at the thought of visiting your dentist, you’re not alone. Many patients of all ages are uncomfortable at the idea of seeing a dentist. Thanks to advances in modern-day technology, dentistry is much more precise and comfortable than it used to be.
That said, many Americans still get nervous about the dentist’s office. At Weinberg Dentistry, we can help you fight off dental anxiety so you can still get the care you need. We do this using sedation dentistry
Using sedation dentistry, we have seen great improvement in our patients’ outlook toward visiting our office on a regular basis.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is a type of dentistry that uses calming drugs to soothe anxiety or fear in a patient prior to a dental appointment. It is sometimes referred to as sleep dentistry, however, this is not entirely accurate because most patients are at least partially conscious after administration.
Depending on the type of procedure or your level of anxiety, we may offer you sedation that falls in one of the following categories:
- Minimal: Patients are awake but relaxed.
- Moderate: Patients are still awake but might not remember much from the appointment.
- Deep: Patients are on the edge of consciousness and can still be woken up.
- General Anesthesia: Patients are completely unconscious.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
Though we may not offer all types of sedation at our clinic, here are four common types of sedation used in sedation dentistry, including:
- Laughing Gas Sedation: Patients will inhale this sedative through a mask placed over the nose and mouth. Patients receiving this kind of sedation can usually drive themselves home following a procedure.
- Oral Sedation: Oral sedation refers to pills taken by patients before the appointment. Patients will need to have someone drive them home following the procedure. Oral sedation will put patients on the brink of unconsciousness.
- IV Sedation: This type of sedation dentistry is administered through an IV connected to a vein. Usually, this is done by an anesthesiologist brought into the office. Our dentist can then monitor and control the level of sedation as they see fit.
- Deep and General Anesthesia: Deep and general anesthesia sedation put patients completely to sleep. They will not be conscious for any part of the dental procedure. This is only required for the most in-depth surgeries.
The type of sedation you receive will depend on your personal levels of anxiety or fear as well as what type of dental procedure you’ll be undergoing. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. We won’t be offended if you say you’re a little nervous. We understand, and we are ready to help make you more comfortable.
Why Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is the best option for patients who experience fear or anxiety when seeing their dentist. It also works well for patients with a low pain threshold, those who have a bad gag reflex, or patients who have a great deal of dental work that needs to be done.
Sedation dentistry is highly effective and very safe. You can trust our team at Weinberg Dentistry to take good care of you, your friend, or your loved one who could benefit from this kind of dentistry.
Before we provide you with any type of sedation, we’ll take your full medical history and make sure we know of any potential reactions to the medication. Not every dentist is qualified to administer sedation dentistry, but Dr. Weinberg is. We will work with you to provide you with the kind of quality care you need so that we can also keep your mouth healthy and happy.
Discover How Sedation Dentistry Can Help You
If you or a loved one deals with dental anxiety or fear, don’t worry. Sedation dentistry through Weinberg Dentistry can make your experience more comfortable. Contact us today to learn more about sedation dentistry treatments or to schedule a consultation to see if sedation dentistry is the right fit for you.
