928-237-9064
Calm Your Fears With Larson Dental
With millions of Americans who suffer from dental anxiety, it’s not uncommon for people to avoid the dentist. However, the long-term consequences of postponing regular checkups and cleanings can quickly wreak havoc on your smile and overall well-being.
Thankfully, technological advancements in dentistry and open communication allow our dentists to eliminate many common fears surrounding dental visits. For patients who require help staying calm and still during treatment, effective dental sedation options are available at our Prescott Valley office to help them stay relaxed.
If you’ve been putting off your next visit to Larson Dental, it’s time to ask our dentists about sedation dentistry.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is an excellent option for people who skip regular dentist visits due to anxiety or fear. The most common reasons people choose this service include:
- Anxiety or fear of dental
- Memories of traumatic dental experiences
- Fear of needles
- Strong gag reflex
- Difficulty becoming numb
- Sensitive teeth or gums
Don’t let these reasons stop you from getting the dental care you need. Regular dental appointments are vital to your health, and there are accommodations available to make you feel safe and secure.
How Does Dental Sedation Work?
Sedation dentistry involves the use of medication to keep the patient relaxed during their appointment. These medications range in strength and are safe for use by most healthy adults during both routine and advanced dental treatments.
Sedation dentistry aims to ensure you, the patient, are as calm and relaxed as possible. At Larson Dental, we understand that dental visits cause anxiety for some patients. If you are at all anxious about your upcoming visit, call our Prescott Valley, AZ office at (928)-237-9064 to discuss sedation options and any accommodations you may need to make your appointment a positive experience.
Sedation Options
At Larson Dental, we offer two sedation options for your convenience. Please feel free to discuss with your dentist which options might work best for you.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is administered through a mask that’s placed over your nose. Once the mask is placed, you will be asked to breathe deeply. As you breathe, you’ll become completely relaxed, and any anxiety will fade away.
There are several advantages to using laughing gas as a sedative. Nitrous oxide is safe for patients of all ages and is beneficial for patients with a bad gag reflex. But the major benefit of nitrous oxide is that its effects wear off almost immediately after the procedure, which means you can drive yourself home.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Some patients might need a deeper sedative than nitrous oxide. For these patients, we also offer oral conscious sedation. Administered in pill form, oral sedation allows patients to arrive for their appointment in a state of deep calm.
You’ll remain conscious during the procedure, but the effects of oral sedation can remain in your system for a few hours following your appointment. We require you to arrange a ride to and from your appointment for this reason.
The benefits of oral sedation include:
- Feeling relaxed while still conscious
- Pill form makes for easy administration
- Effective for routine and complex procedures
- No lasting side effects
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928-237-9064
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dental sedation safe?
Will I be unconscious with dental sedation?
Is dental sedation safe?
As long as the medication is administered by a licensed dentist, you have nothing to worry about. We’ll monitor your vital signs throughout the procedure to ensure they remain at a normal level. If any problem is detected, we can stop your treatment and begin reversing the sedation at once.
If you suffer from health conditions like obesity or sleep apnea, you may be at risk for complications from sedation. During your initial consultation, make sure to inform your dentist of any medical conditions that you have so they can help determine a safe treatment plan for you.
Will I be unconscious with dental sedation?
One of the most common misconceptions about dental sedation is that you’ll be unconscious during treatment, but this isn’t the case. You’ll remain awake and responsive throughout your procedure no matter which sedation option you choose. However, you’ll feel deeply relaxed and likely won’t remember the experience later. We often refer to this state of consciousness as “twilight sleep.”
Get the Dental Care You Need with Sedation
At Larson Dental, we believe that all patients deserve dental care in a welcoming, comfortable environment. Whether you suffer from dental anxiety or are facing extensive treatment, sedation can help.
To learn more about adding dental sedation to your next visit, contact our office today or call our Prescott Valley office at 928-237-9064 to schedule a consultation.