Sedation Dentistry
Easing Dental Fears with Sedation Dentistry
Does the idea of visiting the dentist make your heart rate pick up and your palms sweat? You’re not alone! Dental anxiety is thought to affect 1 out of every 10 Americans. When fear keeps you from getting the treatment you need to maintain a healthy smile, or enjoy the attractive teeth that you deserve, sedation dentistry can help.
At Marco Prime Dental, we understand that a visit to the dentist can make anyone nervous. You’ll find that our friendly staff is warm and attentive to your concerns. Just let us know! We’re more than happy to do all that we can to ensure your treatment is a relaxed and positive one. Many patients find that our sedation comfort options allow them to escape into a tranquil state and enjoy an easy visit.
Is Sedation Right For You?
Sedation options allow us to make quality dental care available to everyone, especially those who experience anxiety. It may surprise you, but sedation isn’t just for patients with dental anxiety. It offers multiple benefits, especially for patients who…
- Have a strong dislike for the sights, sounds, and smells associated with a dental office
- Need extensive, complex procedures that would normally require multiple visits
- Prefer to nap through their dental treatment to “tune it all out”
- Those who have suffered from a previous traumatic dental experience
Our variety of sedation options can be tailored to meet your individual needs. We want your first experience at our Marco Island practice to be a relaxed one, so that you can continue to feel comfortable about future appointments with us. Whether you’re just dropping by for a routine cleaning or undergoing a dental implant – sedation comfort options are available. We always want you to feel comfortable, confident, and relaxed.
Take a Deep Breath and Relax with Our Sedation Options:
Nitrous Oxide
Dental anxiety is no laughing matter, but with nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, you can look forward to a peaceful procedure. We’ll invite you to set in the dental chair, and then place a soft mask over your nose. Through this nosepiece, we’ll administer a mixture of pure oxygen and nitrous gas. As you breathe naturally, you’ll inhale the sedative mixture and experience a warm, tingly sensation from head to toe. As the laughing gas takes affect, your mind will feel at ease and your fears will seem to drift away. However, you’ll still be conscious and responsive, but you’ll feel much calmer.
Nitrous oxide allows you to feel that your treatment is passing easily, without the stress. Once your procedure is over, you’ll resume breathing 100% pure oxygen and within moments find that the effects of the sedative have completely worn off. You’ll quickly feel like yourself again and even be able to resume your normal activities, including driving.
Oral Sedative Medication
If the thought of visiting the dentist leaves you in a panic, oral sedation may be the answer to relieving a higher level of anxiety. Oral sedation offers multiple benefits and can be combined with nitrous oxide gas, depending on your unique needs. Because this sedation is offered in pill liquid form, your dose can be tailored and adjusted to effectively address your particular level of anxiety. Oral sedation targets the area of the brain triggered by fear, calming any worries that you may be experiencing, allowing you to relax for your dental treatment. It works very quickly, offering anxiety relief within minutes.
The most commonly prescribed oral sedatives are Valium®, Halcion®, Sonata®, Ativan®, Vistaril®, and Versed®. While you’ll still be conscious, you’ll likely experience a little memory fog about your procedure afterwards, due to the amnesic properties associated with oral sedatives. It can even be used for children that would rather not cooperate for their treatment.