Put your dental fears at ease by turning to sedation dentistry for help.
Does the idea of visiting the dentist make you break out into a cold sweat? Do you know that you need to get dental care but you are too nervous to schedule the appointment let alone step foot in the office? If you said “yes” then it’s time to talk to our Putnam, CT, family dentist, Dr. Islam Dehis, about sedation dentistry and how it can help you.
If you only have minor anxieties surrounding visiting the dentist then you may want to ask our Putnam dentist about getting nitrous oxide. While this might sound foreign to you, you may know this sedation dentistry by its friendly nickname, “laughing gas”.
Nitrous oxide can be a great way to ease mild-to-moderate forms of anxiety since the effects of this sedation wear off fairly quickly compared to other methods. Of course, if necessary, we can use nitrous oxide along with other forms of sedation to help relieve more intense dental phobias.
On the other hand, oral sedation (a prescription-strength anti-anxiety medication) is another great option for someone who may require more moderate levels of anxiety relief. Oral sedation is taken about a half hour to an hour before your procedure and, unlike nitrous oxide, you will not be able to drive yourself home after your dental treatment because the effects of oral sedation last much longer. You may find yourself feeling groggy for a couple hours after oral sedation.
If you are extremely phobic when it comes to the dentist (perhaps you haven’t been to the dentist in years because just the idea of seeing the dentist has you frozen in fear) then it might be a good idea to talk to us about whether you may actually need deeper levels of sedation. The type of sedation we choose will ultimately depend on your anxiety levels and invasiveness of the dental procedure you need to undergo.
Putnam Family Dental is dedicated to providing you with the ultimate in dental care, no matter what your family needs. Call our Putnam, CT, dental office today to learn more about sedation dentistry and whether it’s the right way to reduce your dental anxieties.