When you have dental anxiety, this can be a barrier between you and the smile you deserve. We want to ensure that you enjoy a positive experience and that if you are undergoing more extensive treatments, the experience is a comfortable one. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS, dentist talks about helping you stay comfortable with dental sedation.
When Do We Prescribe Sedation?
As we touched on above, sedation can help you stay comfortable and relaxed when you are undergoing more extensive treatments, such as tooth extraction or dental implant placement. This can also help patients with special needs, high anxiety levels, or other factors that make undergoing care a difficult process. Our team will choose one for you based on factors like your age, weight, medical history, any medications you are taking, and your anxiety levels.
Three Calming Treatments
Our team offers three different options. The most mild form, and the more commonly prescribed option, is nitrous oxide. Also known as laughing gas, we administer this through a mask over your nose. You inhale the gas and enter a deep state of calm and relaxation. You will be conscious and able to respond to the dentist, but will likely have no memory of the experience. We can adjust the sedation levels and once the procedure ends, the effects do too, so you can drive home or return to work or school!
If we find you need a more substantial state of calming, we can offer oral sedation. Again, you remain conscious but will have no memory of the procedure. This is given in pill or liquid form prior to the procedure, and the effects will take time to wear off, so you need to have someone available to bring you home afterward.
The deepest form of calming is IV, which is administered intravenously before the procedure begins. You enter a deep and sleep-like state, with no memory of the procedure at all. A trained anesthesiologist will be one hand to monitor you through the process. The effects again take time to wear off fully so make sure someone is on hand to take you home. With all options, we will provide detailed aftercare instructions and prescriptions for any medications you may need. If you have any questions about how we offer calming options for our patients, or if you have anxiety and need dental care, then reach out to our team today. You still have time to use your 2024 dental insurance benefits before they expire!
Do You Have Any Questions About Sedation Dentistry?
Our team is ready to ensure your treatment is a comfortable and relaxing experience. Call Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS by calling (913)681-5500 to learn more.
