If you have anxiety about going to the dentist, sedation dentistry can help! Many people suffer from dental anxiety because of negative past experiences at the dentist’s office. There may have been painful procedures, or the dentist may have scolded them about their oral hygiene habits. Whatever the reason, many people would avoid seeing the dentist altogether if it wasn’t for sedation dentistry.
Types of Sedation Dentistry in Federal Way, WA
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous Oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, is a mild sedative inhaled through the nose and delivered to the bloodstream through the lungs. Dentists in Federal Way, WA, usually administer nitrous oxide through a mask that fits over the nose. The patient will feel calm and relaxed during treatment and experience no pain. The effects wear off quickly after the treatment, so patients can drive home after getting the nitrous oxide.
Oral Conscious Sedation
About an hour before your appointment, oral conscious sedation is administered in pill form. The medication will make you feel very relaxed and may even cause you to fall asleep during your procedure. With this type of sedation, you’ll be able to respond to verbal cues from your dentist Federal Way, WA, but may have little or no memory of the process once your session is complete. You’ll need a friend to drive you home after your appointment, as the medication may impair your driving skills.
Intravenous Sedation
Intravenous sedation is another type of sedation option that dentists offer to their patients to make treatment more comfortable. With this type of sedation, the dentist administers the medication intravenously to the patient. This is usually reserved for more invasive procedures, such as dental implant placement, tooth extraction, or patients with severe anxiety who may be unable to cope with other forms of sedation. Contact us to learn more.
The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry in Federal Way, WA
- Improve comfort during dental visits.
- Eliminate anxiety or fear surrounding dental treatments.
- Reduce the gag reflex, which can make treatments uncomfortable or challenging to perform.
- Allow more prolonged, more complicated procedures to be performed in one visit.
- Relieve any stress you may feel about visiting the dentist to get the treatment you need to maintain a healthy smile for years.
Most patients who undergo sedation dentistry feel no discomfort from the procedure. To learn more about the benefits of sedation dentistry and how it can help you, visit First Smile Family Dental at 32717 1st Ave S., Suite 9, Federal Way, WA 98003, or call (253) 785-7323.