Have No Fear, Sedation is Here!

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Does just the thought of going to the dentist give you a feeling in the pit of your stomach? At this point, should we cue the horror movie sound effects?

Whether based in reality or not, the fear of even a routine visit to the dentist can keep some people from going at all… even just for normal cleanings. That’s a recipe for serious dental problems that could have been easily corrected by Dr. Brown, Dr. Vaughn, or Dr. Doan.

But there’s no need to fear the team at Implant Dentistry of Florida; we provide sedation dentistry to keep our patients calm.

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry involves the use of medications to help patients relax during dental procedures. Patients are not under general anesthesia, just sedation, which enables them to overcome most, if not all, of their anxiety.

Are there different levels of sedation?

Different patients require different amounts of sedation. At Implant Dentistry of Florida, we work with minimal and moderate sedation. Our dentists have received specific training in the delivery of all forms of sedation, including moderate IV sedation.

  • Minimal sedation — With this level of sedation, the patient stays awake but feels relaxed.
  • Moderate sedation — Patients under moderate sedation may slur their words when talking and not remember most of what occurred during the procedure.

What are the different medications used for sedation?

At Implant Dentistry of Florida we offer these sedation options:

  • While not really sedation, we use local anesthesia for all procedures where the patient could feel any level of pain or even discomfort. Since many patients have fear of injecting local anesthesia, we will often begin with oral sedation before administering local anesthesia.
  • If the patient prefers to be minimally sedated with gas, nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” is used. Nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen and the patient inhales it through a mask placed over the nose. The gas wears off quickly and the patient usually can drive himself home following the procedure.
  • Oral sedation is the most common form of dental sedation and it can be minimal to moderate. The patient takes a pill usually about 30 minutes before the procedure. The pill makes the patient drowsy.
  • Compared to oral sedation, IV sedation works more quickly. The sedative medication is delivered through a vein. Sedation levels can be adjusted continually as needed.

A side benefit of dental sedation is that it usually also provides an amnesiac effect, meaning that the patient remembers little or none of his or her entire appointment. How great is that?

Now you know — there’s no need to fear your appointment in the friendly Melbourne confines of Implant Dentistry of Florida. Call us for your next appointment and be sure to tell us you’d like to use sedation dentistry, (321) 372-7700.

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