If you have dental anxiety (as millions of Americans do) or its more serious cousin, dental phobia, you are not alone! Even if you have nightmares about going to the dentist, you can still get the dental care you need with amazing advances in sedation dentistry.
Your Burkburnett, Texas, sedation dentist will do everything in their power to ensure your next visit to the dentist is as comfortable and pain-free as possible. If you have had a bad experience with dentistry, or if you just don’t like the sounds and smells common to dental offices, sedation dentistry is just what you need to get the excellent dental care you deserve.
Why Sedation Dentistry?
Not everyone needs to be sedated for dental visits, but many people require something to “take the edge off.” Sedation dentistry is excellent for those patients who:
- Have anxiety
- Have a fear of dental tools
- Have trouble sitting comfortably for extended periods of time
- Need more than the typical dose of Novocain
- Have a strong gag reflex
- Have jaw pain due to TMJ/TMD
- Have physical or cognitive disabilities
- Need multiple dental procedures performed at once
Even if you don’t meet any of these criteria, you may still inquire about sedation dentistry in Burkburnett, Texas. Your dentist will listen to your concerns and then discuss whether or not you’d be a good candidate for sedation dentistry.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
Dental sedation may be administered in a variety of ways.
- Conscious oral sedation is a medication you take before arriving at our dental office. It’s in the form of a pill that allows you to get the dental care you need without fear and anxiety. Your procedure will go by quickly, and you may even fall asleep during the procedure. You will be alert enough to ask questions. Once it’s determined that you’re a good candidate for conscious oral sedation, your dentist will explain what to take and when. You will need someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment if conscious oral sedation is utilized.
- Nitrous oxide, referred to as “laughing gas,” may also be used to ease your dental anxiety and fears. If this type of sedation dentistry is available, you will inhale the harmless gas through a mask or nosepiece. You will feel the calming effects of nitrous oxide within three to five minutes, usually. Your Burkburnett, Texas, sedation dentist controls the amount of sedation you receive and adjusts dosages throughout the dental work. After the procedure is complete, you’ll breathe in oxygen to flush the nitrous oxide out of your system. You are able to drive home after using nitrous oxide sedation dentistry.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry in Burkburnett, Texas
The main benefit of sedation dentistry is that you’ll finally get the dental work you need to save your teeth and gums, but there are many other benefits, too:
- Anterograde amnesia: Amnesia is great with dental work because you will have no memory of the work that was done. While some people do remember their dental procedure, most people do not. Having no memory of your dental visit will make going to the next one even easier.
- Reduced gag reflex: Too strong of a gag reflex can make performing dental work difficult for your Burkburnett sedation dentist. If a dentist has to go deep into the oral cavity, a strong gag reflex can cause problems. The patient’s spasms can lead to damage; sedation dentistry prevents that from happening. With sedation dentistry, this is no longer an issue as the gag reflex is paralyzed, allowing your dentist to work more quickly and efficiently. It’s a win-win for dentist and patient.
- Pain relief: While under the influence of sedatives, the brain will not experience pain.
- Quicker procedures: As mentioned with the gag reflex, when you are sedated, your dentist can get to the necessary areas of the mouth for treatment much more quickly. There is not the constant starting and stopping that often occurs with non-sedated patients.
Ask About Sedation Dentistry in Burkburnett, Texas
Please call Burkburnett Family Dental (940) 569-4901 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kyle Clark to discuss sedation dentistry. You may also fill out our online contact form, so one of our dental team members can reach out to answer questions or schedule a new patient evaluation.
