Sedation Dentistry
If you have lived in fear of going to the dentist, there is a remarkable solution for your anxiety available at our office. Sedation dentistry, a set of advanced pain-management techniques that employs sedatives to help patients relax before dental appointments, can be life-changing. By reducing or eliminating the anxiety involved in planning a trip to the dentist, sedation dentistry allows patients to schedule much-needed dental care without excessive worry about the procedure. Whether you need dental implants, porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns, dental bridges, periodontal treatment, fillings, or another treatment, sedation dentistry can make your appointment more relaxing and stress-free than you may have imagined possible. Contact Aesthetic Smiles of New Jersey today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Sedation Dentistry Options
The sedative may be administered orally or intravenously, depending on the treatment to be performed and your level of anxiety. Aesthetic Smiles of New Jersey provides patients with the following sedation dentistry options:
IV Sedation
For patients with moderate to severe dental anxiety, we may recommend intravenous (IV) sedation. IV sedation is an advanced technique in which a sedative is administered via injection. The dentist can therefore produce the desired level of sedation and adjust the sedative effect throughout the appointment. Aesthetic Smiles of New Jersey provides exceptional safety and effectiveness during IV sedation thanks to our visiting board-certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Glen Atlas.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation involves the administration of a sedative in pill form. The pill is taken about an hour before the scheduled appointment, which allows it to take effect by the time the patient arrives for treatment. Oral conscious sedation produces a deeply relaxed yet conscious state such that most patients hardly notice when the anesthesia is administered at the beginning of the appointment. The sedative effect lasts throughout the appointment and usually lingers for several hours afterward, so you can relax and enjoy the rest of your day.
Sedation Dentistry FAQS
Sedation dentistry options can help you overcome dental fears and experience a more comfortable, relaxing treatment. Below, you will find some of the most frequently asked questions about sedation dentistry and how it can help you meet your needs. Please contact us today for more information, or to schedule an appointment.
Q. How can sedation dentistry help me?
A. Sedation dentistry can be a very important component of dental treatment for individuals who have even slight dental anxiety. Fear of the dentist and/or dental treatment is very common, and it has kept many people from getting the dental treatment they need. If you have a fear of needles, a past traumatic experience, a discomfort with the sights, sounds, and other sensations involved in dental care, difficulty getting numb during a procedure, or mild to severe dental phobia, sedation dentistry can help you relax and experience a virtually pain-free dental treatment. Some sedation dentistry techniques even allow you to sleep through the procedure, and many patients are blissfully unaware that the treatment even took place until it’s complete.
Q. Which sedation dentistry option should I choose?
A. The best option for your needs will depend on a number of factors, including your level of fear and anxiety, the extent and complexity of treatment, your medical history, and others. We offer both I-V sedation and oral conscious sedation here at our practice, both of which can be very effective at putting patients into a state of deep relaxation during treatment. One of our experienced dentists will evaluate you at the initial consultation and help you determine which sedation dentistry option will be the best for your needs.
Q. Who administers the sedation?
A. At Aesthetic Smiles of New Jersey, we employ board-certified anesthesiologists to administer sedation. The anesthesiologist will be in touch with you before the procedure, and will be present throughout the procedure in order to monitor you. They will also follow up with you after the procedure.
Q. Should I arrange for someone to take me to and from the office?
A. If you opt for either I-V sedation or oral conscious sedation, you will need to arrange for someone to take you to and from your appointment. I-V sedation involves a sedative solution delivered intravenously, and oral conscious sedation comes in the form of a small pill taken about an hour before treatment. You will likely feel a bit woozy and tired after treatment using either of those options, and will need some assistance getting home.
Q. Will someone be monitoring me during the treatment?
A. Yes. The anesthesiologist will be monitoring your vital signs and making sure that everything is running smoothly at all times.
Q. Will I feel any pain during the procedure?
A. With sedation dentistry, you will most likely not feel any pain or discomfort. The whole idea of these techniques is to give patients a pain-free, stress-free, and even pleasant treatment experience!
