Conquer Your Dental Fears With Sedation Dentistry in Greenville

Get years of dental work completed in one visit with sedation dentistry

 

If you’re nervous or anxious about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. It has been estimated that 9% to 15% of Americans have dental anxiety or phobia. These patients will put off going to the dentist for years – which can result in gum disease, tooth decay, or loss of teeth.

Patients with dental anxiety experience feelings of uneasiness leading up to, and at their appointment. Patients with dental phobia experience extreme feelings of panic and terror at the very thought of going to the dentist. These conditions can be caused by feelings of helplessness or lack of control of the situation, or fear of the unknown, or a prior bad experience.

Types of Sedation Dentistry

Longbranch Dental Center offers three types of sedation dentistry.

• Nitrous Oxide – Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas. This is best for patients with mild dental anxiety and is the most common form of sedation in dentistry. This form of sedation dentistry is administered through a nasal mask. If nitrous oxide is administered, the patient should be able to drive home or resume normal activities immediately following the procedure.
• Oral Sedation – Oral sedation is administered as a pill. This is best for patients with mild to medium levels of dental anxiety. The medication allows the patient to be very relaxed during the procedure without being completely sedated. In fact, many patients fall asleep during the appointment. It is important to understand every person experiences different levels of sedation with oral sedation. It may take longer for one patient to become relaxed verses another patient. We won’t begin the dental procedure until the medication has taken effect and you are completely relaxed.
• Intravenous (IV) – IV sedation is administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist at our Greenville dental practice. IV sedation provides the patient the deepest level of relaxation. The patient’s vital signs will be monitored during the entire procedure. For patients that elect IV sedation, it is required they have someone accompany them to the appointment, as it is not recommended patients drive following the procedure.

Contact Us

At Longbranch Dental Center in Greenville, we work closely with patients who are nervous of going the dentist. If you are interested in learning more about sedation dentistry, call us today at (903) 455-4161 or request an online appointment.