For people who suffer from dental anxiety, sedation dentistry is a game changer. At Big Country Family Dental in Haskell Texas, Dr. Jason Mahoney understands the importance of preventive and restorative dental care, as well as the importance of making sure you’re comfortable. Find out how sedation dentistry can calm your nerves. Call the office or use the easy online scheduling tool to book your appointment.
Many men and women suffer from dental anxiety, a common condition that can cause sufferers to delay necessary dental care. Ironically, fear of the dentist often leads to dental issues that may have been avoided through proper preventive care.
Sedation dentistry offers a solution to dental anxiety. Through the careful use of medication, you're able to relax during all types of dental procedures. Sedation dentistry is sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry," but you will likely remain awake and alert throughout your procedure.
The degree of sedation dentistry you'll need depends on the level of your dental anxiety and the type of dental treatment needed. There are several different levels of sedation dentistry.
This approach uses nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas, which you inhale with oxygen through a special mask. The effects help you to relax during your procedure, wear off relatively quickly, and require no recovery time.
With oral sedation, you'll receive a prescription medication from Dr. Mahoney similar to Valium. You'll take the medication about an hour before your appointment, and the effects will make you feel drowsy and relaxed during the procedure. It's possible to fall asleep, but you'll easily awake with a gentle shake.
For severe dental anxiety or extensive dental work, you may receive sedatives by way of an intravenous (IV) injection. IV sedation can be moderate or deep, making you fall asleep, depending on your specific needs.
The easiest way to determine if sedation dentistry might be a good option for you is to ask yourself whether you routinely postpone or avoid dental work due to anxiety. If the answer is yes, sedation dentistry at Big Country Family Dental can help you get the care that you need to preserve your dental and overall health.
Here are some other conditions where sedation dentistry can help:
If you have questions about sedation dentistry, reach out to the Big Country Family Dental team for answers.
