Sedation dentistry services can make it easier to speed through appointments and say goodbye to dental anxiety.
Many patients suffer from moderate to severe levels of dental anxiety and this can interfere with their treatment plan. Our dentists at Regional Dental Center understand that undergoing several cosmetic or restorative dentistry procedures can cause anxiety because of fear of pain. Sedation dentistry helps patients get relief from fear and anxiety so they can get through their treatment plan with minimal discomfort and pain. We offer three types of sedation at our practice in Jacksonville, AL.
Oral sedation: This form of sedation dentistry comes in a pill and helps reduce anxiety before and during treatment. If Dr. Young gives you a prescription for anti-anxiety medication, you would take it about an hour before your appointment and have someone drive you to the practice. The medication will make you feel drowsy and relaxed throughout treatment and even for a few hours after your visit. Someone can drive you home and you might take a nap until the medication wears off.
Nitrous oxide: Also known as ‘laughing gas’, this form of sedation dentistry helps you feel numb and relaxed throughout treatment. You will not feel anything while we perform the procedure but will still be semi-conscious. We control the depth of sedation by increasing and decreasing the amount of gas you inhale through a mask. Once the gas is stopped, it only takes a few minutes to return back to normal and there are no side effects. Still, we recommend you have someone drive you home.
Local anesthetic: We use this form of sedation dentistry frequently to numb only certain areas of the mouth during a procedure. Local anesthetic is injected into the gums and cheek to completely numb a quadrant of the mouth. We can then perform the procedure and you won’t feel anything except the dentist moving around in your mouth. The initial injection is quick and relatively painless, making this a convenient option for many patients.
If you have feelings of anxiety or fear please call us to discuss your sedation options so you can get the care you need.
Dr. Bruce Young
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