Does dental anxiety keep you from getting the care you know you need? In that case, sedation could be a great option for you.
Sedation dentistry helps you feel calm, relaxed, and at ease during dental procedures. It’s a moderate level of sedation, so you’re still technically awake but feeling very carefree. It’s sometimes called conscious sedation dentistry or “twilight sleep” because it creates a state of short-term amnesia (forgetfulness) where you experience insensitivity to pain without the loss of consciousness.
It’s beneficial for people with dental anxiety or for those who are undergoing lengthy treatment.
Dental anxieties are quite common, and certainly no reason to be ashamed. Dental anxiety can be associated with the dental clinic setting or specific triggers like needles, drills, white coat syndrome, etc.
There are various reasons why these kinds of anxieties develop, including previous negative experiences with a dentist, extreme sensitivity or resistance to local anesthetics.
Luckily, there is something you can do to help you get the treatment you need. At Jolly & Morton Advanced Dentistry, we believe that even extreme dental anxiety is manageable and shouldn’t be a barrier to receiving the care our patients need. With sedation, we are able to help keep patients calm for the duration of their dental treatments so they can get the necessary work completed quickly and efficiently and without enduring the anxiety or discomforts of the past.
Additionally, we use medications that help to not only provide comfort during the procedure, but will also create a partially amnesic effect, which will make the whole experience a fuzzy memory!
Here at Jolly & Morton Advanced Dentistry, we offer a number of options for sedation depending on what is the right fit for you:
Commonly known as “laughing gas,” this is a mild form of sedation that helps you feel calm and relaxed during dental procedures. Administered through a mask, it takes effect quickly and wears off just as fast, allowing you to resume normal activities after your appointment.
This type of sedation involves taking a prescribed medication before your appointment to help you feel deeply relaxed and at ease. While you remain awake and responsive, you may feel drowsy or have little memory of the procedure, making it a good option for patients with dental anxiety or undergoing longer treatments.
IV sedation is administered directly into your bloodstream, providing a deeper level of relaxation and allowing you to remain calm and comfortable throughout your procedure. Though you’ll still be responsive, many patients feel drowsy and usually have no memory of their treatment afterward.
This option involves general anesthesia administered by a certified anesthesiologist. Hospital-level sedation provides the highest level of both safety and comfort, allowing you to be completely asleep for your procedure and wake up with the treatment complete.
Here at Jolly & Morton Advanced Dentistry, we offer a number of options for sedation depending on what is the right fit for you:
Anyone in good health can be a candidate for IV sedation dentistry, but it is an especially effective solution for patients who experience the following:
IV sedation dentistry is very safe. Before receiving IV sedation, Dr. Morton will conduct a preliminary consultation. Our doctor will check your previous medical/oral history, medications you are taking, and allergies to determine your eligibility.
Some medical conditions, like hypertension, may require permission from your doctor before IV sedation can be administered. Dr. Morton also monitors your vital signs using state-of-the-art monitoring equipment throughout the treatment and while you are in the recovery room.
The sedative works to put you in a semi-conscious state, so you are unaware and unable to remember the events happening around you, although you can still respond to your dentist’s requests.
When the sedative takes effect, our patients generally feel extremely relaxed, similar to a dream-like state of mind. Following the procedure, most say they didn’t even realize how much time had passed and that their appointment was already over.
Before the appointment:
After the appointment there will be a short period where you will be allowed to recover and must be fully alert before you are released to your companion. You may feel a little drowsy when you come around, so you will need to take it easy for the rest of the day. Your companion will be responsible for driving you home.
It can take 24 hours for the medication to leave your body, so avoid alcohol and take any medication prescribed as directed. Also, avoid driving and strenuous activities for the rest of the day.
