When you have an oral surgery on the horizon, such as the placement of dental implants to address missing teeth, you may feel a little nervous. We understand that dental anxiety is very real, but we want to assure our patients that we offer sedation options to help them feel calm and comfortable. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa, CA, oral surgeons discuss the benefits of dental sedation.
Choosing The Right Option for You
First, we want to select the right option to help you enter a calm state, one with little to no memory of the procedure afterward. To begin, we will look at your past dental and medical history, and also take factors like age and weight into account too. We also want to assess the severity of your dental anxiety. We know your dental fears can be very real, but we don’t want them to stand between you and the healthy, beautiful smile that you deserve. In addition to a local anesthetic near the area to be treated, we will then choose one of three forms of dental sedation.
Nitrous Oxide
The most common option is nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. This one is administered through a mask over the nose, and the patient inhales a gas to instantly calm them. The patient is conscious and able to respond, but will likely remember nothing of the treatment. The effects last as long as the treatment does, and wear off quickly. In fact, you may be able to drive home or even return to work or school afterward!
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation is a much deeper form that is administered in the hours before the procedure via pill or liquid form. You will likely need to avoid food and drink for the eight hours before the procedure. Patients rarely member anything of the procedure and the effects take time to wear off completely. Since you’ll likely be groggy, you’ll need to arrange for a friend or family members to ring you home afterward. We will send any necessary instructions with them.
IV
This is the deepest form available and is administered through an IV. A trained anesthesiologist will be on hand the entire time to monitor you and adjust the calming agent levels as needed. Again, you will need a friend or family member to bring you home.
Do You Have Questions About Our Calming Treatment Options?
We want to help you enjoy optimal oral health and function, and an attractive smile too. To learn more about how our team helps ensure each and every patient is comfortable and relaxed during treatment, then schedule a consultation by calling Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.