Dr. Robert L. Harrell and his caring and committed team at Adult Dentistry Of Ballantyne believe that dental visits should be anxiety free. We understand that it can be tempting to put off your regular cleanings or other cosmetic and general dentistry procedures when you are nervous about your time in the chair. We want you to rest assured that your comfort is a top priority. That’s why we offer a variety of sedation options to ease dental anxiety so you have the most comfortable dental visit possible.
Comfortable and Relaxed Atmosphere
Sometimes anxious patients suffer unnecessarily through their regular dental visits due to a simple lack of communication. The use of sedation isn’t limited to those undergoing extensive dental treatment. For instance, people who experience stress about their regular cleanings or have sensitivity issues are ideal candidates for sedation dentistry. If you even think you may benefit from sedation, please discuss it with us.
Discover more about different sedation methods below:
Enteral Sedation
The next type of sedation comes in the form of a pill or liquid that you take orally. This is called enteral sedation. Like local anesthetics, oftentimes it is used in combination with nitrous oxide. You may still be awake, but not nervous about the dental work.
IV Sedation
Intravaneous (IV) sedation is another common method of anti-anxiety wherein the sedative is directly injected to a vein. This technique will allow the dentist to provide a deeper sedation, although you will still be awake but less aware of the procedure. The process requires recovery time after you leave the office.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is a form of sedation by which you will be asleep for the entire procedure. It is practiced using drugs that are directly injected into a vein, along with the possible inhalation of a gaseous anesthetic. A thorough recovery time in the office may be required before leaving. Read more at Colgate
Needle-Free Relaxation
Another reason patients forego sedation is because they dislike needles and think injection the only way we can help. This is not the case. If needles are an issue for you, we have oral medications available. Plus, nitrous oxide may be something to consider. Discover more below:
Nitrous oxide, sometimes called “laughing gas,” is one option your dentist may offer to help make you more comfortable during certain procedures. It is not intended to put you to sleep. You will be able to hear and respond to any requests or directions the dentist may have. Your dentist will ask you to breathe normally through your nose, and within a few short minutes you should start to feel the effects of the nitrous oxide. You may feel light-headed or a tingling in your arms and legs. Some people say their arms and legs feel heavy. Ultimately, you should feel calm and comfortable. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off soon after the mask is removed. Read more at Mouth Healthy
Ease your dental anxiety and enjoy your dentist appointments from here on out. To learn more about sedation dentistry, schedule a free, no-obligation smile consultation with Dr. Harrell. Call 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to make your appointment. During your consultation a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your sedation dentistry treatment is complete.
