Dental phobia is a common condition and is the reason about 15 percent of Americans try to avoid visiting the dentist’s office. If you have this fear, you may be a candidate for sedation dentistry. Some people may experience a little anxiety when they enter the dentist’s office, but others may have violent reactions such as sweating and shaking, dizziness and panic attacks. However, there are many more reasons why people opt for sedation dentistry.
You may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry if you have:
• A severe gag reflex
• A time constraint and need to have several procedures done at one time
• Acute jaw soreness
• Physical limitations such as neck and back problems
• Difficulty responding to numbing injections
• A desire to be comfortable and relaxed during dental procedures
If you experience any of the above, you may avoid getting the dental treatment you need. This can result in the development of serious oral problems and may have a detrimental effect on your overall health. The aim of sedation dentistry is to make you comfortable during your dental treatment.
Our cosmetic dentist and his dental professionals have special training in sedation dentistry. The most common sedation dentistry procedures are:
• Nitrous oxide that you inhale combined with oxygen through a mask that is put over your nose. This is also called laughing gas. The effects wear off quickly.
• Oral conscious sedation is another option. A relaxant medication is taken a set amount of time before the treatment and will make you drowsy, but you will be conscious. Some people become so drowsy that they fall asleep. However, they wake up easily after the procedure.
• Intravenous conscious sedation is yet another type of sedation that is administered through a vein. It works quickly and the specialist can easily adjust the level of sedation throughout the treatment.
Sedation dentistry can work for children and adults. If a child is terrified to visit the dentist and refuses to cooperate, there are different types of sedation that are safe for children, including nitrous oxide and oral sedation.
During a consultation at the office of Samuel F. Jirik, DDS in Cabot, you can learn more about sedation dentistry and if it is the best option for your situation. Dr. Jirik and his team serve men and women in the Little Rock, AR and surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule a dental appointment!
