At 21st Century Dental, we get to know our patients pretty well. We know what you like and don’t like, when your birthday is and certainly how you feel about visiting the dentist. If you don’t feel 100 percent comfortable getting your teeth examined, we understand — and you’re not alone. We get lots of “white knuckle” patients at our office. Maybe a previous experience has left you with a little anxiety, or perhaps you’ve always been afraid of the dentist — whatever the cause of your dental dread, don’t let it stop you from taking care of your teeth for another day. Your sedation dentist in Irving can help you relax your way to oral health — keep reading to find out how.
About Sedation Dentistry
We know there’s absolutely no reason to dread the dentist, but that doesn’t mean that dental anxiety isn’t very real — it certainly is. But it doesn’t have to be anymore. We’re so proud to offer sedation dentistry to our patients who could stand to be a little more relaxed at the dentist’s. We have three options in sedation.
Nitrous Oxide
You probably know nitrous oxide better by its other name, laughing gas. We like it for more than the fact that it makes our bad jokes go over a whole lot better — it also relaxes patients with absolutely no after-effects.
Nitrous oxide is one of the safest forms of sedation available, actually. We administer it with a mask that goes over your nose, so you breathe in the laughing gas to put you at ease. You’re still completely conscious, but all of a sudden those sights and sounds of the dentist’s office don’t seem like such a big deal. And as soon as the procedure is over and we remove the mask, the effects wear off and you’re ready to go on with your day.
Oral Sedation
If your anxiety begins before you even come to the dentist’s office, oral sedation might be the solution you’ve been seeking. It works deeper than nitrous oxide, and because it comes in pill form, you actually take it an hour before your dental procedure even begins — meaning you’re already relaxed once you come in. And if you need an extra pill to get to sleep the night before, we can take care of that, too.
During the procedure you’ll still be awake and able to answer your dentist’s questions, but you’ll be totally relaxed and removed from what’s going on around you. We’ll monitor you throughout the procedure to make sure you’re totally safe. Because it’s a bit stronger than nitrous oxide, you should also plan to have someone drive you home from your surgery.
We’ve found that oral sedation is an excellent choice for nearly all our patients.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is an option for those with severe dental anxiety, or for those undergoing a long dental procedure. It’s a deeper sedation than you get with nitrous oxide or oral sedation, and you will need to plan for someone to drive you home from your dental appointment — and monitor you for the next day.
If IV sedation is the solution for you, Dr. Roy and Dr. Bristow will work with an anesthesiologist who will make sure you have nothing short of a wonderful experience. You’ll receive an IV in the back of your hand that will put you to sleep. You’ll breathe on your own, but you won’t have any memory of the experience — and we’ll monitor you the whole time, for your safety.
Contact Us Today
If you think you could stand to be a little more relaxed during your next dental procedure — and really, isn’t that everyone? — then don’t hesitate to contact our office today. We’ll talk about your anxieties and decide together what’s best for you. Don’t wait any longer — this year, relax your way to healthier teeth.