Sedation Dentistry Specialist

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is the use of medical sedatives to make you feel more calm and relaxed during your time at the dentist.

The professionals at Expressions in Dentistry are highly skilled in administering sedation dentistry and have used it to help many patients improve their dental experience and ultimately get better results from their dental care.

Is sedation dentistry for me?

Roughly 30% of the population reports having some degree of dental phobia. Dental phobias tend to develop after a bad experience in your younger years, but they can stick around for a lifetime. For many people, their anxiety about getting dental care is so high that they avoid getting many necessary treatments.

If your oral health is suffering because of dental anxiety, then sedation dentistry is definitely for you. But your discomfort doesn’t need to be extreme for you to benefit from sedation dentistry. It can be very helpful for people who just experience mild discomfort at the dentist, or even for those who just have a sensitive gag reflex.

Sedation dentistry is also a popular option if you’re having a complex or lengthy treatment, like a full mouth reconstruction. These procedures can require a lot of time in the dental chair, and sedation dentistry can help keep you relaxed throughout your extended treatment time. 

What types of sedation dentistry do you offer?

The team at Expressions in Dentistry is dedicated to both the comfort and the well-being of their patients, and offer a few different sedation options, including:

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide is an odorless gas that enhances your sense of calm and relaxation when you inhale it. It’s also known as laughing gas because it can sometimes give patients the giggles.

Your provider administers nitrous oxide through a mask that fits over your nose and stays in place throughout your entire procedure. You notice the effects soon after you start inhaling it. 

After the team finishes your procedure, they pump pure oxygen in through the mask to flush the nitrous oxide out of your system, and the effects wear off quickly.

IV conscious sedation

IV conscious sedation is a medical sedative that is administered through an intravenous drip. Because the sedative goes directly to your bloodstream, the team can control its effects very precisely. 

IV conscious sedation brings you to an altered state of consciousness, but it doesn’t put you to sleep. It significantly reduces your levels of anxiety and perception of pain, and leaves you very relaxed throughout your procedure.

To learn more about how sedation dentistry can enhance your time at Expressions in Dentistry, schedule a visit today by calling the office or booking online.