Your treatment experience should always be a comfortable and relaxing one, even if you suffer from dental anxiety or have special needs that could complicate your ability to undergo care. Which is why we offer three different dental sedation options for our patients. In today’s blog, your Greenville, TX, dentist talks about our approach to dental sedation!
When You Need a Calming Treatment
When do we recommend dental sedation for our patients? We suggest a calming medication when someone is undergoing a more extensive treatment option, such as dental implant placement or even tooth extraction. We could suggest this if you have anxiety or special needs that could make undergoing even minor procedures a difficult process.
To choose the best selection for you, we will take a number of factors into account. For example, our team can look at your age, weight, medical history, and any medications you are currently taking. We also factor in your anxiety levels and any special needs as well. Our team members are trained in this process and a professional anesthesiologist can be on hand to monitor you if you are undergoing deeper forms of calming, such as IV sedation.
Our Sedation Options
We have three different options to choose from. The first is the most common, a mild form of calming known as nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. This will be administered to you through a mask over your nose. You breathe in a special gas mixture and then enter a deep state of calm and relaxation, with little to no memory of the procedure. We can adjust the calming levels during your treatment, and the effects wear off once the procedure ends. Many can drive themselves home or even return to work or school!
Our team also has a deeper form known as oral conscious sedation. As with nitrous oxide, you will be conscious and able to respond to the dentist, even if you don’t remember the process at all. You take a pill or liquid before the procedure, and enter a deep state of calm and relaxation. We will likely suggest fasting before the procedure. You enter this deep state of calm with no memory of the procedure, and will be a bit groggy when the treatment ends. You will need someone on hand to take you home.
The deepest form of calming is IV, and is administered intravenously and allows you to reach a sleep-like state, with no memory of the process at all. You will need someone to bring you home afterward.
Schedule An Appointment and Learn About Calming Treatments
Our team wants to make sure that each and every patient enjoys a comfortable visit to our office. Schedule an appointment with Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, today at 903-455-5750 to learn more about ensuring a positive experience.