Could sedation dentistry vanquish your dental fears?
Do you feel nervous walking into the dentist’s office? It’s not surprising that for a lot of Americans the thought of visiting the dentist isn’t a positive one, but our Putnam, CT, dentists Dr. Alaa Ahmed and Dr. Islam Dehis want to change the way you view family dentistry. If you’ve been putting off a dental visit due to anxiety, then sedation dentistry may be right for you.
There are different forms of sedation dentistry
There are several types of sedation dentistry that you can receive from our Putnam, CT, dentists. The two most common types are oral sedation and inhalation sedation.
Oral sedation comes in the form of a pill (typically a prescription-strength anti-anxiety medication such as Valium) that you will take about 30 minutes prior to your procedure. Once the sedation has taken effect, we will begin your procedure. Inhalation sedation, on the other hand, involves administering nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) through a mask that is placed over the nose. The effects are immediate but will wear off immediately once the mask is removed.
Sedation dentistry won’t knock you out
Sedation dentistry is not designed to put you to sleep. While more intensive dental surgeries may be performed under general anesthesia, sedation dentistry is designed to simply take the edge off and to help you feel relaxed during a routine procedure such as a root canal or implant procedure. You will still be alert and aware of what’s going on; however, some patients do fall asleep under the effects of higher doses of sedation.
You may need someone to drive you home
Depending on the type and the strength of sedation you receive from our Putnam, CT, dental team you may need to have someone drive you to and from the office. That’s because certain forms of sedation such as oral sedation can last for hours after your treatment and can impair your ability to drive. Play it safe and bring a family member with you to your next dental appointment if you’re going to get sedation.
Sedation dentistry is also safe for children and special needs patients
There are many reasons why people say “yes” to sedation dentistry. It isn’t just for people who have a fear of the dentist. Sedation dentistry can help make people with neck problems and disabilities feel more comfortable sitting in the dental chair, and sedation dentistry can even relax nervous kids. With a more cool and calm patient sitting in our chair we can also perform procedures more efficiently, which means faster treatment for you!
If you need to schedule your next dental appointment in Putnam, CT, for your family, or you want to talk to us about sedation dentistry, call Putnam Family Dental at (860) 928-5334.