Do you feel nervous, anxious, or even scared when visiting the dentist? Do these feelings prevent you from seeking the treatment you need to maintain oral health? If so, you are not alone. At Pearl White Dentistry, our Fort Lauderdale sedation dentist, Dr. Natalia Benda-Celenski, offers a variety of sedation options to suit your needs.
Millions of people feel at least some degree of angst when it comes time for a routine dental exam or cleaning out of fear that an underlying issue may be uncovered. An even greater number of people feel a considerable amount of worry when they know they must undergo a procedure like a filling, root canal, or tooth extraction.
Fortunately, sedation dentistry can help reduce your apprehension and keep you calm and comfortable throughout your office visit. From oral relaxants to laughing gas, we provide several choices depending on your level of anxiety so you can focus on the beautiful smile ahead instead of the actual procedure. Stop searching for a “sedation dentist near me” and call Pearl White Dentistry!
Even though local anesthesia eliminates any pain or discomfort that a patient can feel during a dental procedure, many still feel uneasy about the procedure itself. Many times, just knowing that a lidocaine injection will be administered is enough to make some patients who are fearful of needles feel anxious. Some people are so overcome with fear at the thought of visiting the dentist that they rather endure the pain of a toothache or take their chances with untreated gum disease than seek treatment. Unfortunately, the longer you wait to treat a dental issue, the more extensive the damage can become – thus, requiring even more aggressive treatment.
We understand that any kind of dental work can be stressful, even for those who undergo routine checkups. We want you to feel comfortable in seeking treatment so we can prevent minor issues from developing into severe problems that may threaten both your oral and overall health. With this in mind, our Fort Lauderale sedation dentist offers a variety of sleep dentistry options to appease your level of concern.
Oral conscious sedation is available for patients who are very nervous visiting the dentist or for those who wish to have multiple treatments performed in a single, longer appointment. It is achieved using a medication you take orally about an hour before you come into our office. Once you arrive, you will already feel more at ease and will continue to feel relaxed and worry-free through the entire procedure. Oral sedatives may take some time to wear off, so we recommend that you abstain from driving to and from the office.
For more minor procedures or for people who just need a little extra help relaxing, we offer nitrous oxide. Also known as laughing gas, this option helps patients feel light, happy, and stress-free during their treatments. The effects wear off as soon as the procedure is completed and the mask is removed, so you can resume normal activities right away.
Generally, sedation dentistry uses medication to relax patients during dental work. The procedure is designed to make people who are nervous about seeing a dentist more comfortable getting the oral care they need.
Sedation in dental and medical procedures can vary, from minimal sedation that keeps a person awake and relaxed to anesthesia in which the patient is completely unconscious.
Sedation medication can be administered in several ways, including through inhalation or by oral ingestion.
Inhalation: Nitrous oxide - “laughing gas” - is often used in this form of sedation. You breathe in the sedative through a mask placed over your nose and immediately start to relax but remain awake throughout the visit. The sedative typically wears off quickly, and you may be able to drive yourself home after the visit.
Oral: This is the most common form of sedation used for dentistry. You take a sedative pill about an hour before your visit. Some people become groggy and sleepy but can be easily awakened. This option is for people who are significantly nervous about a dental visit.
Many sedation dentistry patients feel like their visit lasted only a few minutes, even if the dental work takes an hour or more to complete.
That means complex restorative services and other dental work can be performed in fewer, longer visits. If you are hesitant to improve your smile because of the dental work involved, sedation can help ease your concerns.
Similarly, the sedation option makes many people more likely to get the routine checkups, cleanings and other dental services that they need. That routine work is a vital part of keeping your mouth healthy.
Sedation is typically reserved for people who are fearful or anxious about seeing a dentist. Unfortunately, as many as 30 percent of people across the country avoid dentist visits because of anxiety. Sedation helps people get vital oral care in a comfortable setting.
It may also be appropriate for patients with a low discomfort threshold, sensitive teeth, a bad gag reflex and those who have trouble staying in a dentist’s chair. Sedation is frequently used in situations where a person needs extensive dental work.
Many dentists can administer minimal and moderate sedation through nitrous oxide and pills. However, more extensive sedation requires specific training and certification.
Minimal and moderate sedation is safe and frequently used, but it is always important to discuss your own personal health situation with your dentist.
Dr. Natalia and her team at Pearl White have provided a wide range of sedation dentistry services for more than a decade. We are committed dental professionals who are dedicated to helping patients restore and improve their smiles.
Do not just take our word for it. Patients often glow about their experience at Pearl White.
If you are worried about an upcoming dental exam or procedure, rest assured that we can provide you with a sedation treatment that can eliminate your concerns and allow you to feel at ease during your visit. To learn more about our sedation dentistry options and determine the one that’s best for you, call our Fort Lauderdale sedation dentistry office today at (954) 491-8812 or contact us online.
