For many people, going to the dentist is not a simple prospect but a genuine ordeal. These people suffer from dental phobia, or an intense fear of going to the dentist. In most cases, their anxiety stems from unpleasant experiences at the dentist, particularly if these experiences took place when they were young. Fortunately, modern dentistry techniques can help make visiting the dental office much less traumatic for those with dental phobia.

Sedation Dentistry—How It Works

Sedation dentistry is a technique used during routine dental procedures that greatly reduces and even eliminates any experience of anxiety. Treated with nitrous oxide or a mild sedative administered in the form of a pill, the patient can pass his or her time in the dentist’s chair completely relaxed and anxiety-free. The patient remains conscious—the sedative simply removes all discomfort and promotes complete relaxation. If the sedation dentist uses nitrous oxide, the patient can even drive home afterward. Use of a sedative pill, however, requires the patient to be sure someone is available for a safe drive home.

Advantages of Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry offers several advantages to those who choose to use it. In many cases, people with a phobia of the dentist avoid necessary appointments and regular dental work for so long that, by the time they do see a dentist, they have a good deal of work that must be done. Sedation dentistry relaxes the patient so completely that the dentist can easily perform several procedures in a reduced amount of time, making it easier to catch up with neglected dental work.

Sedation dentistry can also help patients return to a normal schedule of dental visits. Without the anxiety that has kept them out of the dentist’s office sometimes for a number of years, they can once again pursue a regular routine to maintain their oral and dental health.

If you are interested in sedation dentistry in Fort Worth, please contact our office to find out how sedation dentistry can help you catch up on neglected dental work or return to a regular schedule of dental care.

Many dental patients used to avoid the dentist out of fear, but now those patients are able to access dental treatment through sedation dentistry. Unlike general anesthesia, sedation dentistry does not put a patient to sleep completely. Instead, patients remain awake, but they are relaxed and, after the appointment, have no memory of the procedures performed in the dental office. Sedation dentistry presents fewer risks than general anesthesia.

Another advantage of sedation dentistry is that patients feel as though they’ve been in the chair for just a few minutes. This characteristic makes sedation dentistry a helpful strategy for complex cases, because it allows the patient to endure longer treatment sessions and reduces the overall number of appointments needed for lengthy procedures, such as the placement of multiple veneers or dental implants.

In years past, sedatives were primarily given intravenously, but recent advances allow sedation dentistry patients to avoid needles entirely. Oral sedation dentistry is becoming increasingly common and popular. In this approach, patients take a pill, which is typically from a class of drugs known as benzodiazapines.

When sedation dentistry is in use, most procedures will still require an additional local anesthetic, but that doesn’t necessarily preclude a needle-free dentist visit. Some local anesthetics can even be delivered through the nose, via spray or drops.

Oral health is important to overall health, so it’s important for you to have a dental exam and cleaning on a regular basis. If you have been avoiding the dentist because of anxiety, contact our Fort Worth sedation dentistry team for a more comfortable experience.