For people with any kind of dental phobia, even a routine examination can be nerve-wracking. Sedation can be used to help an anxious guest relax during their dental appointments; it’s also useful for those undergoing lengthier procedures that require them to sit still for a while. Anytime you schedule a visit at Magnolia Shores Family Dental, you can ask about the available options for sedation dentistry in Summerfield, NC and which one Dr. Parry might suggest for you or your child.
Like many people, you may have a moderate form of dental anxiety. That’s perfectly normal – it’s no reason to feel nervous or ashamed. Even so, you wouldn’t want it to prevent crucial dental care, right? Therefore, consider getting oral conscious sedation with your next treatment. This service quickly helps you achieve deeper relaxation than nitrous oxide. If you’d like to learn more about it, just keep reading or call our office today!
To be specific, oral conscious sedation is one approach dentists use to treat dental anxiety. It’s stronger than more mild methods and is thus suggested for adults with moderate nervousness, fear, or other treatment-related discomforts.
Unlike nitrous oxide or IV approaches, oral conscious sedation doesn’t involve masks or needles. Rather, it simply has a dentist prescribe their patient a pill. This medicine (usually Valium or Halcyon) is then taken just before the visit, resulting in a profound calm about fifteen minutes after ingestion.
With oral conscious sedation, things work pretty simply. The method is easy to both implement and manage.
As stated before, the dentist will have you take a pill before treatment. Soon after doing so, you should feel deeply relaxed and calm. You may, in fact, feel so at ease that you don’t remember the procedure after the medication wears off. Meanwhile, the dentist and their team will monitor your vitals to ensure there aren’t complications.
The sedation, furthermore, won’t put you to sleep. You’ll remain conscious enough to respond to the dentist’s instructions. Still, you’ll be dizzy enough to need someone to drive you home after treatment. Without such assistance, operating heavy machinery could get you into an accident.
Ultimately, you don’t need much to be a good oral-conscious sedation candidate. So long as you’re in decently good health, you should be able to qualify for it.
On the other hand, some patients are likelier to benefit from it than others. In particular, oral conscious sedation is ideal for patients who:
If you’re looking for a mild sedative, then you’re looking for nitrous oxide! This highly tested, safe, fast-acting, and effective option is ideal for patients of all ages. Plus, it can be used for countless procedures, from routine checkups to surgical treatments. If you’d like to learn more about this calming solution, you’re welcome to give us a call or schedule a consultation. Or, you can keep reading to learn more, including who is a good candidate.
Candidacy for nitrous oxide will be discussed and determined at your consultation. To determine an answer, we need to consider important information like your allergies and medical history. With all of that said, this mild sedative is typically a fit for patients who have a strong gag reflex, struggle with dental sensitivity, have a fear of needles, or experience dental-related anxiety. If for any reason nitrous oxide isn’t an ideal solution, don’t worry – we will work with you to find a solution that gives you the positive treatment experience you deserve.
Nitrous oxide is a fast-acting sedative that is administered through a small mask. It will be carefully placed over your nose before your treatment, allowing you to breathe in the odorless mixture comfortably. After a few minutes, you’ll begin to feel the effects set in, resulting in you feeling relaxed and anxiety-free. Of course, you will still be awake and aware enough to follow directions and answer questions throughout the entire procedure. If at any point the nitrous needs to be adjusted, we can do so quickly.
Once we’ve completed your treatment, we will remove the mask. Shortly after, the effects will begin to wear off. In fact, many patients feel back to normal in a matter of minutes! As a result, you can return to your daily routine immediately once the procedure is done. Before you leave our office, we will make sure to answer any questions you have as well as provide you with any aftercare instructions necessary.