Sedation Dentistry in Phoenix
For Patients with Anxiety and Much More
We can’t say it enough – We Care About You! Our dentists want you to feel relaxed and secure when you visit our Phoenix location. We understand that a visit to the dentist can be stressful. That’s why we offer anxiety relief and comforting measures to create a positive experience, including the following:
- Anti-Anxiety Medications: We can prescribe a little pill that will relieve your anxiety prior to your appointments.
- Nitrous Oxide: Your dentist may administer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to ease anxiety and increase comfort. With nitrous oxide, you can return to work or play right after your dental visit.
- Other Comforts: During your visit, curl up with a comfy blanket, put on headphones to listen to your favorite music and relax!
Most importantly, our skilled experienced doctors know how to instill confidence and make your appointments comfortable while accomplishing as much as possible in the shortest period of time in the fewest number of visits. Our experience will brighten your dental appointment!
Oral Sedation: Taking Fear Out of Dentistry
Visiting the dentist is one of the most common phobias people experience. Often, fearful patients even forgo necessary dental care to avoid a visit to their dentist. If you find yourself feeling panicky at the thought of having your teeth worked on, you should know that a safe and comfortable relaxation method exists. Oral sedation alleviates anxiety so you can face dental appointments with confidence.
What exactly does oral sedation entail?
If you fear dental appointments, call our team to determine if oral sedation is available for you based on your medical history and current medications. If you’re a good candidate for oral sedation, we will select an appropriate anti anxiety or sedative drug for you to take at a predetermined time before your appointment. These safe and widely prescribed drugs diminish anxiety and help patients relax.
Your anxiety level will help us determine dosage, which in turn determines your consciousness level during the appointment. Some patients become so relaxed they drift off into a restful sleep during their dental procedures. Throughout your appointment, we will closely monitor your vital signs to ensure your safety. When you choose oral sedation, you must have a responsible adult who can drive you to and from your appointment and spend some time with you after the appointment until the sedative wears off completely.
Why choose oral sedation?
In general, patients choose oral sedation if they:
- Experience severe anxiety and fear when faced with dental treatment
- Put off important dental treatment because of fear
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Have trouble feeling numb after receiving local anesthetic
- Cannot rest comfortably in a dentist’s exam chair due to neck or back problems
What risks and side effects are associated with oral sedation?
The anti-anxiety medications used to achieve oral sedation have been prescribed and studied for years. Potential side effects are widely documented. These drugs are generally safe for most patients and have a low incidence of minor side effects.
Typically, patients who receive oral sedation experience:
- Retrograde amnesia, in which they recall little to nothing about the dental procedure
- Decreased post operative soreness
- Dry mouth
A very small percentage of patients may temporarily have hiccups after using oral sedation drugs.
Nitrous Oxide
Many people know nitrous oxide as laughing gas. In our office, we administer nitrous oxide to enhance patient comfort and relieve anxiety for patients of all ages. After you're comfortably seated in the dental chair, you'll inhale the gas (a nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture) through a face mask. We will control the amount of nitrous you receive to ensure your safety. You will begin to relax and will not recognize pain so that we can perform your dental work while you stay completely comfortable. The effects of nitrous oxide subside once we remove your mask. That means that if nitrous is the only anesthesia you receive, you will be capable of driving yourself home following the visit and can continue your daily activities as normal.