Help! I Have Dental Anxiety!
September 11th, 2024
For many patients, the idea of stepping into a dentist’s office can cause fear and anxiety, interfering with their access to needed dental care. At Avalon Dental Care, we offer a range of sedation dentistry solutions, including nitrous oxide and oral sedation, to help you relax in the dentist’s chair while receiving the best possible care. We strive to provide an anxiety-free experience to build positive associations with the dentist and encourage future dental care.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Also known as sleep dentistry, sedation dentistry involves the use of medication to help create a calm state. At Avalon Dental Care, we offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral sedation, depending on your unique needs.
Nitrous Oxide: This light form of sedation involves breathing nitrous oxide gas mixed with oxygen, which helps create a euphoric feeling that quickly spreads through the body. Laughing gas can also minimize the sensation of pain, often reducing the need for local anesthetics. Once your treatment concludes, the effects of nitrous oxide wear off right away, allowing you to drive home safely and resume your everyday activities without interruption.
Oral Sedation: Oral conscious sedation involves taking medication before your procedure to help you feel calm and comfortable. It is helpful for most patients with dental phobia, allowing for stress-free dental care. Oral sedation will leave you feeling incredibly relaxed, and you may even fall asleep, but you will remain conscious and responsive to directions. Most of our patients remember little, if anything, of their treatment. The effects of oral sedation wear off gradually, so you’ll need to have a trusted adult drive you home and stay with you for a few hours.
What Are the Benefits of Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry helps create a calm and relaxed state of mind, helping provide stress- and anxiety-free care. It is ideal for patients with dental fear or phobia that interferes with them getting the needed dental care. It also allows for more treatments to be performed in fewer appointments, making it ideal for patients with busy schedules.
Sedation dentistry takes the edge off of dental visits and helps guide cooperation. It is beneficial for patients needing lengthy or complex treatments, those with past traumatic dental experiences, patients with a strong gag reflex, and those with difficulty sitting still for long. It can also be helpful for patients with low pain thresholds or those who have difficulty getting numb and staying numb. Sedation dentistry can help build positive associations with the dentist, lessening the fear of future dental care.
Sedation Dentistry Near Me in Lomita, CA
Contact Avalon Dental Care to learn more about our sedation dentistry options for anxiety-free dental care. Our dedicated team will evaluate your unique needs and recommend the ideal sedation dentistry options to help you relax in the dentist’s chair. We strive to provide the best possible care and patient experience, laying the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. We invite you to call 310-530-3100 to schedule an appointment today!