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Dental anxiety, or dental phobia, is extreme anxiety or fear related to visiting the dentist. This type of anxiety can prevent people from visiting the dentist regularly, and may even result in feelings of shame or embarrassment. The good news is that there are a number of options available to help relieve dental anxiety.

Your dentist can provide you with safe sedation dentistry, so you can feel relaxed and at ease during your dental treatments. If you’re anxious about your procedure, speak to your dentist about your options for sedation.

What Is Dental Sedation?

Dental sedation is a technique that helps ease your fear and anxiety during a dental procedure. 

The major types of dental sedation include the following:

• IV sedation

If you experience a lot of anxiety or fear related to dental treatments, IV sedation may be a good option for you. This form of sedation involves administering medication intravenously, meaning the medication enters your bloodstream directly.

• Oral sedation

Oral sedation is administered via a pill taken an hour before the dental appointment. This sedation is ideal for calming down those who have mild to moderate dental anxiety. 

• Nitrous oxide sedation

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is administered through a mask that fits over the patient’s mouth. The patient receives oxygen through the mask, as well as nitrous oxide. The gas has a calming effect that can help ease anxiety in nervous patients.

• Local anesthesia

Local anesthesia prevents pain by blocking the nerve sensation from reaching the brain. Dentists often use local anesthesia to numb the areas around the mouth. This allows them to perform a procedure without causing the patient pain. Local anesthesia is used for most dental procedures.

Is Sedation Safe?

Sedation is safe when administered by a trained professional. Your dentist will discuss your options with you and answer your questions. You can relax during your procedure, and afterward, you’ll feel groggy and tired. For your safety, you will need to arrange for transportation to and from your procedure.

Getting Ready For Sedation

Before your appointment, be sure to tell your dentist about any medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements. Certain medications may cause sedation or drowsiness, so your dentist needs to know about any possible conflicts.

Which Is The Best Type of Dental Sedation?

For most patients, local anesthesia is the go-to option for dental sedation. Local anesthesia is used to numb up the tooth being worked on, so you won’t feel anything during your procedure. However, some patients are more anxious about having local anesthesia than the procedure itself, so it’s best to talk with your dentist about your options.

Oral sedatives are also used frequently. These sedatives can be taken approximately one hour before your appointment, depending on their dosage. For heavier sedatives, your dentist may want you to arrive several hours early so you can safely adjust to the sedative before the procedure begins.

To schedule an appointment, contact Cascade Dental Group LLC at 1296 Commercial St SE, Suite 102, Salem, OR 97302, or call (503) 399-0724.