Sedation Dentistry

Dental anxiety can keep patients from obtaining necessary dental care, which can lead to major dental problems and even risks to an individual’s overall health. Sedation dentistry involves techniques that allow you to settle your nerves before and during the treatment process. These techniques can help you experience a more comfortable and relaxing procedure while minimizing or eliminating discomfort.

With sedation dentistry, you can alleviate your fears and get the care you need to have healthier teeth and gums and a beautiful smile!

Sedation dentistry offers anxious dental patients a way to reduce stress and achieve a more comfortable treatment. Sometimes referred to as “sleep” dentistry, these techniques can help patients who:

• Are nervous at the thought of needles and dental treatment overall
• Are uncomfortable with the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells associated with a dental office
• Have sensitive teeth and gums
• Have difficulty getting numb
• Have a sensitive gag reflex
• Are anxious about having dental conditions that may require an extensive treatment process

Sedation dentistry can also be very beneficial for patients who are having multiple treatments performed in combination, such as that with smile makeovers or full mouth restorations.

Oral conscious sedation is a very popular sedation option at our practice, and it involves no needles! About one hour before your procedure, you will take a small pill. Once the procedure begins, the effects of the pill should make you feel extraordinarily relaxed. While you will not be unconscious and you should be able to communicate with our dental team during treatment, oral conscious sedation makes it possible for you to experience a comfortable, pain-free procedure. In fact, you may not even remember that the procedure took place at all once it’s complete. A member of our team will be monitoring your vital signs throughout the treatment to make sure everything is running smoothly. It’s also important to note that you will be very drowsy once treatment is finished, so you will need someone to drive you to and from the practice for your appointment.

Germantown Dental Group takes a variety of steps to make sure your visit with us is as comfortable and anxiety-free as possible. Our practice offers a very soothing environment, and we can provide amenities such as soft blankets and personal headphones so you can listen to music during treatment. We want you to feel relaxed and at ease during your time at Germantown Dental Group, and we encourage you to let us know if there is anything else we can do to make you feel comfortable!

For more information on sedation dentistry at Germantown Dental Group, or to schedule an appointment here at our practice, please contact us today.

Dental anxiety is more common than you may think. In fact, it has been estimated that approximately 50 percent of all Americans experience some level of dental anxiety or phobia. Sedation dentistry offers these individuals a way to receive the treatment they need without being fearful of the sights, sounds, and sensations associated with dental procedures. Many people completely avoid dental treatment because of dental anxiety; sedation dentistry can alleviate that anxiety and help patients obtain necessary treatment without sacrificing their comfort.

When you come in for your initial consultation and oral examination, our dentist can talk with you about our sedation dentistry techniques and explain the process with you in detail. If you would like to utilize these techniques during your treatment, we will evaluate your medical history and any medications you are currently taking to determine whether you are a candidate for sedation dentistry. Most patients are candidates; however, our dentists may recommend that those who have certain health conditions and/or a history of sleep apnea consult with their doctor before undergoing sedation dentistry.

Oral conscious sedation is designed to help you experience a virtually pain-free procedure. Even the technique itself is painless – it simply involves the taking of a pill before your treatment. Oral conscious sedation can put you in a state of such deep relaxation that you should not feel painful or uncomfortable sensations during the procedure. In fact, even though you should be conscious and able to communicate with our dental team at all times, you will likely have no memory of the treatment once it’s finished.

The oral conscious sedation pill is typically taken about one hour before your scheduled treatment. The dosage will be measured to provide sedation effects throughout the entire procedure. Once treatment is complete, it may take a few hours before these effects completely wear off.

Since the effects of oral conscious sedation will develop before the procedure, and you will likely feel very tired and groggy after the procedure, you will need someone to drive you to and from the office.

Sleepiness and grogginess are the most common side effects of this particular sedation dentistry technique. While oral conscious sedation should not put you completely to sleep during treatment, a feeling of drowsiness will be present after the procedure. Some individuals may also have a “dry mouth” sensation; however, this should fade as the effects of sedation wear off. Some patients have also reported a temporary headache, dizziness, and a feeling of lightheadedness following the procedure, but these effects typically dissipate quickly. One side effect that is often welcome for many patients is oral conscious sedation’s “amnesic” abilities, which enables patients to emerge from the procedure with little to no memory of it ever taking place.

Please contact Germantown Dental Group for more information on sedation dentistry, or to schedule an appointment.