Don’t let a fear of the dentist prevent you from treatment. If you have anxiety, the team at Coastal General Dentistry can help. We make sure that our patients feel confident and comfortable in our office. To make this goal a reality, we provide sedation dentistry for anxious and fearful patients in Virginia Beach, VA.
Sedation is a general dental service that we offer to our patients. It benefits patients undergoing oral surgery and lengthy procedures. Sedation can also help patients with dental fears and phobias and those with special needs. It offers a safe treatment method and a great way for anxious patients to receive dental care.
Because our dentists have experience in surgery, they understand how essential comfortable treatment is for patients if they have complex care. Our dentists also understand that even routine care can seem daunting. We can safely administer sedation to help patients of all ages get pain-free dental care.
Continue reading to learn about the different types of dental sedation options at our Virginia Beach, VA, dental office.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses sedative medications to reduce anxiety and pain associated with dental procedures. Sometimes, patients refer to it as “sleep dentistry” because some relax so well that they fall asleep during the procedure. Dental sedation can help those with extreme dental anxiety or even phobias about going to the dentist.
Benefits of Sedation
Sedation dentistry in our Virginia Beach, VA office offers many benefits. You can experience less discomfort and shorter recovery times. You can also expect improved oral health outcomes and increased safety in the dental office. More benefits include the following:
- It helps reduce fear and anxiety. Sedative medication can help people relax and manage their fear and anxiety. This allows them to remain still and they won’t feel any pain or discomfort.
- It reduces the amount of time the procedure takes. Because the patient is relaxed and still, the dentist can complete the procedure more quickly and effectively. This also contributes to quick recovery times.
- It helps prevent physical reactions to fear. Some people can physically react to fear with an increased heart rate, sweating, or heightened gag reflex. Sedation dentistry minimizes these physical reactions.
- It helps prevent memory of the procedure. Since the patient is under sedation, they aren’t likely to remember much of the procedure. This can keep any fear associated with the experience at bay.
- It makes the dental experience more pleasant and treatments pain-free. The dental experience can be more pleasant for a sedated patient. They may even be more likely to have regular dental checkups in the future without sedation.
Contact our office before your next visit if you or a loved one needs sedation. Our friendly dental team is always happy to help you find the right type of sedation for your specific needs. We want to ensure you feel relaxed and comfortable during dental procedures.
Is Sedation For Me?
Before any type of sedation treatment, we will ask for a list of your current medications or medical conditions. Sometimes, sleep apnea, obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease may impact treatment. These problems increase the risk of complications.
In addition, we will not recommend sedation for pregnant women. Deeper sedation may also create issues for older patients prone to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Our dentists will choose the most effective and safe option for you.
If you have a poor gag reflex, dental fear, or have a past traumatic dental experience, you may benefit from sedation.
Common Types of Dental Sedation
The following are common types of dental sedation options that you should know about. Our Virginia Beach dental office will work with you to determine the best option for you.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is the mildest form of sedation. This means it has little impact on a patient’s ability to stay awake and aware. You inhale the gas mixed with oxygen through a small mask that our dentist places over your nose.
The gas and oxygen mixture affects the body quickly and has short-lived effects. It reduces anxiety and helps patients tolerate treatments that might cause discomfort. Nitrous oxide is safe for all ages under supervision.
Oral Conscious Sedation
This is a stronger form of sedation than nitrous oxide. Conscious sedation is better for longer or more intense dental procedures. It involves taking a medication, usually in pill form, by mouth before the procedure.
Under this sedation, you may be conscious but will not feel any pain. Because it also takes time for it to wear off, you will need to get a ride to and from our office.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
This form of conscious sedation delivers anti-anxiety medication through a vein into the bloodstream. We may use IV and other types of sedation for longer dental procedures. This is great for root canals or wisdom teeth extractions, which may take more time.
Under IV sedation, you may also communicate with our dentists, although you will forget about the procedure. In addition, you will feel deeply relaxed and do not feel any pain during treatment.
General Anesthesia
This is the strongest form of sedation. It ensures you are completely unconscious during the procedure. We may recommend general anesthesia for more complex surgery. If you have extreme anxiety and cannot cooperate during a procedure, you can also benefit from this option.
Our dental office usually provides sedation with local anesthesia. Sometimes, you will still have mild discomfort in your mouth while under sedation. When we numb the mouth, you will not feel any pain or feeling in the mouth during the procedure.
How to Feel Comfortable at the Dentist
In addition to sedation, we make every effort to ensure you feel relaxed in our office.
- Communicate: We welcome you to ask questions and voice your concerns. Our team can explain your treatment and address your specific fears.
- Bring a Friend or Family Member: You can bring someone to sit with you in our waiting room. When you have someone else with you, it can help calm your fears.
- Bring Comfort Items: A stress ball or fidget toy can help distract you during treatment. You can also use headphones to listen to music or a podcast at your visit. If you are sensitive to loud noises, we may recommend noise-canceling headphones.
- Practice Deep Breathing: Deep breathing will help calm your nervous system before your visit. You can also use meditation to feel calm before you visit.
- Make a Signal: Establish a nonverbal signal with your dentist. You can raise your hand when you need a break or feel uncomfortable. We can pause your treatment if needed.
- Get an Office Tour: If you are unfamiliar with our office or team, we suggest a tour. You can schedule an office tour before your next visit. At this tour, you will meet our office team and see our treatment rooms.
Some anxiety is normal, but it shouldn’t get between you and dental care. If you do not visit the dentist for regular care, you may be at an increased risk of infection.
If you have anxiety because you’re self-conscious about your dental problems, don’t worry. Our dentists want to help treat your teeth and gums. We will not judge you for your dental problems. We’re here to help you.
Schedule a Worry-free Consultation
Do you have a fear of the dentist? Use sedation dentistry in Virginia Beach, VA, to treat fear or anxiety while at the dentist. Please let us know if you need accommodations before your next visit.
Call our office at 757-216-9914 or schedule an appointment online. If you have concerns or questions for our dentists, let us know at your next visit.