At Tadros Dental, we understand that dental anxiety can make going to the dentist a stressful experience. That’s why we offer sedation dentistry options to all our patients. Depending on your needs, we may recommend laughing gas, oral sedation or IV sedation. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Tadros to find out if sedation dentistry is right for you.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
It’s not uncommon to be afraid of the dentist. If the thought of having your teeth cleaned or restored makes your body tense with fear, you aren’t alone. Many people would rather deal with the pain of a toothache than go to the dentist. We know that some people’s phobia can keep them from coming to the dentist. If you avoid the dentist, sedation may help alleviate your anxiety.
While sedation is only required for certain procedures, it can be used for a variety of dental services if anxiety concerns you. Each patient is unique. Be sure to discuss your concerns with our knowledgeable team.
Use of Medication to Help your Dental Procedure
At Tadros Dental, we can use medication to help you relax during your dental procedure. We offer multiple sedation methods, so together, we can choose the one that is right for you. Here are the sedation methods available to you, depending on your needs:
- Local Anesthesia: While not a sedation method, we use local anesthesia to numb your mouth and reduce your discomfort during dental procedures. Local anesthesia works by numbing the treatment site and surrounding tissues to make your experience as comfortable as possible. The effects of local anesthesia typically last a few hours following treatment.
- Laughing Gas: We use laughing gas to help you achieve a state of ease and relaxation. Laughing gas is a safe, gentle gas that we administer with a small mask placed over the nose. With its minimal side effects, laughing gas is safe for patients of all ages and is recommended for children to help them relax during treatment.
- Oral Sedation: Patients with mild to moderate levels of dental anxiety can benefit from oral sedation. We administer this sedation method with a pill that helps you feel calm and relaxed before and during your procedure. A friend or family member will need to drive you home after your visit, as you will still be feeling drowsy.
- IV Sedation: We administer IV sedation through a vein. This sedation method goes to work quickly and can be easily adjusted throughout your procedure. While IV sedation doesn’t put you to sleep, it places you in a state of deep relaxation throughout your procedure. Patients may experience some drowsiness following the procedure and must be driven home by a friend or family member.