Have you ever felt hesitant to visit the dentist or avoided the care you need altogether? Dental anxiety can significantly impact your dental health and overall wellbeing. Fear of the dentist is regularly reported as one of the most common fears in surveys. Beyond feeling afraid of the dentist, many patients avoid dental appointments due to concerns about pain, gagging, feeling uncomfortable in the dental chair, or even just the noises and smells of the dental environment. No matter why you feel reluctant to get the dental care you need, dental sedation may be a great solution for you!
BENEFITS OF DENTAL SEDATION
Dental sedation can help you take back control of your oral health by empowering you to feel comfortable in the dental chair. For patients with dental fear, sedation can eliminate symptoms of panic such as racing pulse and elevated blood pressure. With sedation dentistry, you can start to replace feelings of dread with positive dental experiences. In some cases, patients can even overcome their dental fear completely over time, allowing them to eventually enjoy regular dental visits while no longer needing sedation at all. However, sedation dentistry is always an option at Anderson Family Dental because we want you to experience fearless dental care in complete comfort, whatever it takes!
TYPES OF DENTAL SEDATION
Like all aspects of your care at Anderson Family Dental, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every person’s dental hesitancy is different. For some, sensitive teeth can make routine cleanings uncomfortable, and you just need something to take the edge off. For others, the idea of walking through the front doors of our dental office in Winter Park, FL sounds like a major achievement. No matter how intense your dental anxiety or how complex your treatment needs are, we can help you find the right dental sedation option for you!
NITROUS OXIDE
Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas” is one of the safest dental sedation options available. In fact, it’s so safe that it’s the number one choice for sedation dentistry for children! With nitrous oxide, you’ll be able to rest comfortably with a feeling of relaxation and comfort. Nitrous oxide helps local dental anesthesia (numbing injections) work better and can suppress the gag reflex as well! It’s a versatile solution to many dental discomforts. Best of all, it wears off almost immediately, meaning you won’t feel groggy after your appointment. You’ll be able to drive yourself home and go about your normal life following your appointment.
ORAL CONSCIOUS SEDATION
Have you ever wished you could pop a pill and forget you ever had to go to the dentist? Oral conscious sedation can do that for you! We’ll administer the ideal dosage based on your needs and let you rest in your private dental suite while the medication takes effect. You’ll rest comfortably in a twilight consciousness before long. While oral dental sedation won’t put you completely to sleep, many patients feel so comfortable and relaxed that they do fall asleep in the chair!
Oral conscious sedation is a great option for patients needing complex dental treatments, more time in the chair, or who have intense dental anxiety that keeps them from seeking dental care. It pairs well with nitrous oxide, letting us adjust your level for ideal effects. With local dental anesthesia in the mix, you’ll enjoy completely pain-free dentistry from start to finish. Because oral dental sedation delivers a more profound level of relaxation, you’ll need a driver to get you home afterward and will want to take it easy for the rest of your day.
OTHER TYPES OF SEDATION DENTISTRY
For patients needing surgical attention such as complex wisdom tooth removal for impacted wisdom teeth that goes beyond the scope of our office, or whose dental phobia is so severe that conscious sedation will not be enough for their needs, we are happy to connect you with specialists who can offer general sedation so you can be put completely under. Our priority is to make sure you get the care you need, whatever it takes.
OTHER WAYS WE HELP REDUCE YOUR DENTAL ANXIETY
Beyond dental sedation, we’ve taken your comfort into consideration in every aspect of our practice. We understand that, for many patients, the dental office may not be your favorite place. Our private dental suites will help you feel secluded and calm, and the view of Dr. Anderson’s gorgeous collection of plants outside large windows help give each room a serene, peaceful feeling. Cozy blankets can help you feel right at home, and sunglasses and headphones will help block out the intense overhead light and sounds that might trigger your anxiety.
Above all, we want our patients to feel comfortable communicating their needs with us. Dental anxiety is incredibly common, and you should always feel free to let us know if anything makes you feel tense or uncomfortable! Whether it’s your first visit to our office, or you’ve been seeing us for dental care for years, we can always work to make your dental healthcare experience as pleasant as possible. Call us today to discuss how dental sedation in Winter Park, FL can help you take back control of your oral health!