Reduced Anxiety and Fear
If you’re prone to dental anxiety and fear, you’re not alone! These feelings are common among patients. The important thing is that we work together to keep these emotions from preventing you from getting the dental care you need. That’s where sedation dentistry comes in. Sedation dentistry uses medications to help you relax, making it easier for you to receive the care you need.
Using procedures like:
- Local anesthetic
- Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
- Oral sedation (a pill with medicine to help you relax)
- IV sedation
- General anesthesia
We can help you feel calm or even sleepy, making your dental procedures more comfortable and less stressful. We’ll work with you to choose the right level of sedation for you (or your loved one) to make your procedure a relaxing, resounding success.
Pain-Free Procedures
Many patients avoid dental procedures because they think it will hurt. Luckily, sedation can help reduce your pain and discomfort during your procedure. Even if you do not elect to receive stronger sedation methods like IV sedation or general anesthesia, we use local anesthetic for every procedure that could cause you pain. We will use a combination of topical (surface) and local (injected) anesthetic to keep the nerves in your mouth from sending pain signals to your brain.
The best part is, local anesthetic works fast! The pain killer kicks in in 5 minutes for less and lasts for several hours, helping to make your experience quick and pain free.
More Comfort = Finishing Faster
A fantastic benefit of sedation is that it can help patients feel more comfortable, both physically and emotionally. As we discussed earlier, the sedation works to keep pain signals from reaching your brain, protecting you from physical pain. But an added benefit is that many patients who undergo sedation dentistry also often experience a state of relaxation and drowsiness, making it easier for them to remain comfortable during procedures.
Because of this feeling of relaxation, you are able to listen to and work with your providers--the dentist, dental assistant, and other team members helping with your procedure--so they can focus on completing your procedure quickly and efficiently. Not only does this result in less time for you in the chair, but it also can mean your provider can get more done in one sitting, reducing the need for multiple appointments.
Safe and Effective
Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way to help patients relax during dental procedures. The medications used in sedation dentistry are carefully monitored to ensure that patients remain safe and comfortable throughout the procedure. In fact, Dr. Henninger, a dentist here at North County Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, is one of only 5% of restorative dentists who is certified in IV sedation. He completed a year-long residency focusing on dental anesthesia, oral surgery, and complex dental treatments, and even has full hospital privileges at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas and at the Tri-City medical Center. This means you can have full confidence that your experience will be safe and effective.
Helps Patients with Special Needs
In addition to the benefits already mentioned, sedation dentistry can also help patients with special needs. Patients with special needs, such as those with autism or developmental disabilities, may have difficulty sitting still or cooperating during dental procedures. It can help these patients remain calm and relaxed, making it easier for the dentist to perform necessary treatments.
Conclusion
As you can see, sedation dentistry offers a range of benefits for patients with a variety of needs. If you’ve been putting off treatment because you’re worried about your anxiety levels, fear of needles, or even your children’s cooperation, don’t worry--North County Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry is here to help! Give us a call at 760-940-2273 so we can get to know you and your needs and help you make a plan for getting important dental care in a safe, comfortable environment. We can’t wait to welcome you!
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