There are many patients who don’t enjoy their time at the dentist’s office. It can be a real source of anxiety for many individuals, which is dangerous. When it becomes difficult for you to schedule and attend your dentist appointments, it becomes more likely that you’ll develop an oral health condition. That won’t do you any favors when it comes to managing your dental anxiety. If you’re someone who suffers from dental anxiety, you are not alone, and your dentist actually has solutions to help you. Sedation dentistry is a common method used to put anxious patients at ease during their visits.
Nitrous Oxide Helps Patients Relax During Their Visits
Even if you don’t suffer from a crippling form of dental anxiety, many patients still don’t feel comfortable while visiting the dentist. The source of your anxiety could be a childhood experience, or a poor dental experience in the past. Nitrous oxide is a gentle sedation option that can be used to help many patients relax during their visits to the dentist. Nitrous oxide is a gas that your dentist can give you to help you calm down during your visit. Once your dental visit is complete, the effects will wear off almost immediately.
Oral Sedation Can Be Administered Before You Arrive
Oral sedation is another common form of sedation dentistry. Oral sedatives are swallowed, so you don’t have to experience any gas or needles if those things also make you uncomfortable. Oral sedatives can be taken in advance, so that you experience the calming effect as you arrive at the dentist’s office. Oral sedatives are unlike nitrous oxide in that the effects can linger afterward. You will need a friend or family member to drive you home after your visit, as you will not be able to operate a car.
IV Sedation Is Used for Significant Procedures or Serious Cases of Dental Anxiety
IV sedation is the most powerful form of dental sedation. This is the type of dental sedation that your dentist will use during most oral surgery. IV sedation is administered intravenously, and you will likely remember little to nothing about the experience after the fact. IV sedation can be used in the most severe cases of dental anxiety so that patients can receive the care that they need. It’s also a useful form of sedation for patients who experience an extreme gag reflex and can’t otherwise receive the care they need.
Put Your Dental Anxiety to Rest at Cerritos Dental Surgery
Sedation dentistry is a valuable tool for patients who experience dental anxiety because it allows them to receive the dental care that they need. If you’re an individual who experiences dental anxiety or a gag reflex, don’t let this prevent you from seeking the oral health treatment that you need. Talk to our team at Cerritos Dental Surgery about how we can help.
