Millions of Americans who are in need of dental care avoid going to the dentist out of fear. We can understand this. Some people have had very traumatic and painful experiences in the dentist’s chair. For many years, what is known as sedation dentistry was not the widely-available option it is now.

Fortunately, this is no longer the case. No matter how extensive your dental work turns out to be, sedation dentistry can help you through the experience comfortably, often without you even knowing the time has passed.

Sedation Dentistry Really Works!…

How does it work?

There are a number of different sedation methods available. Which one is right for you will depend on the extent of work that needs to be done. Oral sedatives, nitrous oxide, or intravenous sedation are typically used in combination with a local anesthetic. Oral sedatives can be taken many hours prior to your dental visit in order to be effective when you arrive. Use of general anesthesia is possible, but is reserved for more extensive oral surgeries.

Ideal candidates for sedation dentistry

Unless you have a pre-existing health condition that prohibits you from receiving sedation, there should be no reason why you cannot benefit from one of the various sedation methods. Be sure to talk to your dentist about any medications you are currently taking, or any other health issues that you may have to ensure that sedation is safe. Patients who benefit the most from sedation dentistry have any combination of the following

• Anxiety, fear of needles, claustrophobia, or other dental-related phobias
• Extensive dental problems and limited time to treat them
• A history of traumatic dental incidents
• Problems sitting still or controlling movements – particularly children and individuals with neuromuscular diseases
• Resistance to Novocain or other local anesthetics
• Overly sensitive teeth, gums, or jaw
• Overly sensitive gag reflex

Please visit our questions about sedation dentistry page for more information.

Avoiding dental treatment will most assuredly lead to further dental complications. We strongly encourage that you visit a dentist immediately if you are experiencing any problems with your teeth. If you live in Southern Oregon and have been avoiding dental treatment, we can help. We can assure you that your visit will be comfortable and pain-free. Please contact us today to arrange an appointment.