Does dental anxiety keep you from getting the care you know you need? At Desoto Dentures and Implants in Southaven, MS, sedation dentistry could be a great option for you. Our team is trained to help you feel relaxed and comfortable throughout your procedure.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry helps you feel calm, relaxed, and at ease during dental procedures. It involves a moderate level of sedation — you are still technically awake, but feeling very comfortable. It is sometimes called conscious sedation dentistry or "twilight sleep" because it creates a state of short-term amnesia where you experience insensitivity to pain without the loss of consciousness.
Sedation is beneficial for people with dental anxiety or for those undergoing lengthy treatment such as dental implant placement, full-arch restorations, or multiple extractions.
What is Dental Anxiety? How Can Sedation Dentistry Help?
Dental anxiety is quite common, and certainly nothing to be ashamed of. It can be associated with the dental clinic setting or specific triggers like needles, drills, or white coat syndrome.
There are various reasons why these anxieties develop, including previous negative experiences with a dentist, extreme sensitivity, or resistance to local anesthetics.
At Desoto Dentures and Implants, we believe that even significant dental anxiety is manageable and should never be a barrier to receiving the care you need. With sedation, we help keep patients calm for the duration of their dental treatments so they can get the necessary work completed comfortably and efficiently.
We use medications that not only provide comfort during the procedure but also create a partially amnesic effect — making the whole experience a fuzzy memory.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
At Desoto Dentures and Implants, we offer sedation options depending on what is the right fit for you:
- Oral Conscious Sedation involves a prescription for sedative pills catered to you by the doctor. Sedative medication is typically given the night before to help you sleep, as well as the morning of your procedure to ensure your comfort throughout.
- Nitrous Oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) is a sedative used to safely and effectively manage pain and anxiety during your dental procedure. Colorless and odorless, nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen and administered through a small mask worn over the nose. You may feel light-headed, tingly, or heaviness in your arms or legs. Generally, patients feel calm and relaxed throughout the procedure.
Before & After the Appointment
Before the appointment:
- Avoid eating or drinking 10 hours before your appointment.
- Take your normal medication with a sip of water, unless M. Bleibel instructs you otherwise.
- Do not smoke for 24 hours before your procedure.
- Wear comfortable clothing, but no jewelry, nail polish, or contact lenses.
- Brush your teeth before your procedure.
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.
Ready to Experience Comfortable Dentistry?
Call Desoto Dentures and Implants at 662-996-2211 or request an appointment online.
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