The simple thought of going to the dentist can give patients a large amount of stress and anxiety, which will often prevent them from scheduling an appointment in the first place. Without visiting your dentist on a regular basis, your teeth are at risk of developing decay that can go undetected for years leading to infection and tooth loss! The lack of regular cleanings can also lead to gum disease which is easily prevented. Thankfully, Grady Dental Care offers options for oral sedation and nitrous oxide to patients who fear visiting the dentist.
Sedation dentistry uses certain medications to help patients relax during cleanings and other procedures. Nitrous oxide gas has been the means of sedation dentistry for many years, helping patients overcome their dental fears in order to protect their smile. It helps calm the patient, but they are able to breathe on their own and remain in complete control of their body. Discovered many years ago, nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” is extremely safe and is often used with children instead of local anesthetics when restoring cavities to keep the child comfortable and avoid the feeling of being numb.
We also use laughing gas with adults who have issues with anxiety for procedures ranging from a simple cleaning to dental implant placement. After we are finished with the procedure the gas wears off quickly and there are no after-effects. For our patients with more significant anxiety we prescribe oral sedatives to be taken prior to the dental appointment to help them relax or in some cases allow them to sleep through the procedure.
If you’re still concerned about this process, you can always schedule a consultation to discuss the process and how we can incorporate it in to your treatment plan. We can also arrange a trial session for 5 minutes to see how the nitrous oxide feels and if you’re comfortable with it before proceeding with your appointment.
Both children and adults can benefit from dental sedation and the doctors at Grady Dental Care have received specialty training to provide these services during your dental treatment. So if you suffer with dental anxiety or phobia give us a call and schedule a consultation to discuss your treatment options. Do not let the hesitation most of us have about a visit to the dentist prevent you from receiving the care you need!