May 19, 2017
If you dread the dentist, you're not alone. Fear of visiting the dentistry ranks as American's top fears, up there with public speaking and snakes. Many would rather endure the pain of a toothache than seek treatment. Don't suffer any longer; use sedation dentistry to treat your fear and anxiety of visiting the dentist. Dental Care of Mid-Florida is one of the premier locations in Mid-Florida for sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry uses medication to help relax patients while they are being treated for everything from a simple teeth cleaning to surgery. Sedation dentistry is ideal for those who have a fear of the dentist, have low pain tolerance, have a strong gag reflex, or have an extensive procedure that needs to be completed. Depending on the needs of the patient and the type of treatment, sedation can range from minimal (where you are awake, but relaxed) all the way to general anesthesia. At Dental Care of Mid-Florida, we offer several types of sedation dentistry techniques:
- Minimal Sedation: Commonly known as "laughing gas", nitrous oxide is inhaled by the patient through a mask to help them relax. The gas is totally safe and colorless and the patient is totally coherent during the procedure and can also be used on children.
- Oral Sedation -- Typically patients are given a pill an hour before the procedure which allows them to fall asleep. Depending on the dosage, you may still be awake though groggy during the procedure but you won't remember the sights, details and sounds of the visit. Due to the powerful effects of the sedation, a patient must be accompanied by a driver to take them home because judgment may be impaired as the sedation wears off.
- IV Sedation -- This treatment is used for shorter procedures and the sedation is administered through the bloodstream. The level of sedation is mild and often patients think they have slept through the entire procedure.