Oral surgery could be used to transform the health and stability of your smile, while also improving overall smile esthetics too. However, we know that many people have dental anxiety, or could be concerned about their comfort during these procedures. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa , CA, oral surgeons discuss how we ensure comfort with sedation dentistry.
Addressing Dental Anxiety and Securing Your Comfort
Studies show that anywhere between 8% and up to 15% of adults suffer from some form of dental anxiety. Whether due to bad past experiences or lack of experience with dental care, this could prevent people from receiving minor care, enabling more severe issues to develop. To ensure patients with anxiety receive the care they need, we use sedation to help them enter a calm, relaxed state. In addition, this could help those with developmental disabilities that makes undergoing care difficult, or to ensure comfort during more extensive oral surgical procedures, such as wisdom tooth extraction, ridge augmentation and sinus lifts, facial trauma treatment, or the placement of one or more dental implants.
Three Sedation Options
We take your oral health, medical history, and other factors into account before prescribing a sedation option. For more minor cases, we could suggest nitrous oxide. A gas is administered though a mask over the nose, inhaled to induce a euphoric feeling. You remain conscious and able to respond to the dentist, but with no memory of the procedure. The effects wear off right away once the procedure ends, so you could potentially return to work or school or drive yourself home.
Oral sedation is a deeper form of calm, administered as a pill or liquid just before the procedure. You become more relaxed, but stay conscious, again with no memory of the experience. The effects will take time to wear off, so you should arrange for a friend or family member to bring you home. For the deepest option, we administer the calming agent through an IV, with a trained anesthesiologist on hand to monitor you throughout the procedure.
Our team has experience working with pediatric and adult patients alike, and always follow strict health and safety guidelines. If you have any questions about the steps we take to ensure you comfort and peace of mind during your time in the office, then contact our team today. We want to help you obtain a stronger, healthier smile!
Do You Have Questions About Dental Sedation?
We always take steps to ensure our patients feel comfortable and relaxed when they visit us for treatment. To learn more about how we use oral surgery to improve the health and beauty of your smile, or to schedule a consultation, call Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.
