If you suffer from dental anxiety, you're not alone.
A large percentage of individuals in the United States suffers from dental anxiety, and many people experience it so severely that they actually have what’s known as “dental phobia.” Sound familiar? It’s okay—you’re in a no-judgment zone.
Overall, there are two main reasons people put off going to the dentist: cost and fear. It’s not unusual for a patient to admit they haven’t been to the dentist in a very long time. With that in mind, the collective experience of our dental team totals more than 100 years, and Dr. Marisa Patt fully understands the need to provide care with a compassionate approach and a focus on making treatment as comfortable as possible. When it comes to dental care, the best course of action is to let us take a look and resolve the small issues before they become bigger problems.
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What Are the Benefits of IV Sedation Dentistry?
Intravenous (IV) sedation offers a wide range of benefits for patients who are significantly fearful or nervous about a dental procedure. Advantages of this type of sedation dentistry include:
- The sedation solution is injected directly into the bloodstream for fast-acting relief
- Instills a state of relaxation so pronounced that it may even result in a light sleep throughout the procedure
- The level of sedation can be modified depending on your needs and wishes
- Many individuals have little to no memory of the treatment even taking place after it is complete
- More dental work can be accomplished in a single appointment, potentially reducing the need to schedule additional appointments soon thereafter
Sedation techniques can be utilized for preventive dental care, cosmetic dentistry, or restorative dental treatment. Overall, one of the greatest benefits of sedation dentistry is that it gives patients enough peace-of-mind to actually go through with necessary dental treatment rather than avoiding it altogether. This can ultimately prevent current dental problems from getting much worse and requiring more invasive treatment down the road!
Common Causes of Dental Anxiety
Fears and anxieties associated with dental treatment can have a variety of causes. Some of the most common include:
- General nervousness or fear relating to needles, injections drills, and other types of dental instruments/materials
- Teeth and gums that are particularly sensitive
- Unease with the general sounds, tastes, and smells connected to a dental office
- Overactive/severe gag reflex
- A previous traumatic experience at a dental office
While dental anxiety is perfectly understandable, it is important to remember that advances in the dental field, along with a team of dental professionals committed to providing the most comfortable experience possible, have allowed patients to achieve much more relaxing visits to the dentist’s office. Dr. Patt will be happy to talk with you about your needs and explore options that can help relieve fears and anxieties during your treatment.
How Does IV Sedation Work?
During your initial consultation with Dr. Patt, she will evaluate your medical and dental history to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for IV sedation. If so, Dr. Patt and our dental team will provide you with some guidelines for how you will need to prepare for the day of your treatment. Even mild levels of IV sedation can produce drowsiness effects that take some time to wear off, so you will need to have a family member or friend take you to and from our office on the day of your treatment.
The sedation solution will be injected intravenously before the treatment begins, and will likely take effect very fast. You should feel very relaxed—you may even drift off to a light sleep. During the treatment, your vital signs will be closely monitored. When the treatment is complete, you will be taken to a recovery area to rest for a little while as the effects begin to wear off. With that in mind, you will still likely feel very groggy and drowsy in the hours after the procedure, and it is advisable to have someone stay with you until the sedation effects have fully faded. Most patients are able to resume their normal daily routines 24 hours after the effects start to dissipate.
Additional Comfort Options
Our hygienists have additional gentle dental care training, and they’ll talk you through every step of the way. Your safety and comfort is our primary concern. In addition to IV sedation techniques, we proudly feature these options to help alleviate anxiety:
- Massage chairs
- Pain-free injections with the DentalVibe®
- High-quality materials
Doing what we can to make sure our patients feel as safe and comfortable as possible is one of our team’s highest priorities. If you have questions, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact BOCO Dental & Prosthodontics today.
