Sedation Funnel Site

Does the thought of having to go to the dentist make you grind your teeth with fear?

Would you rather endure the agonizing pain of a toothache than lay back in a dentist’s chair? If this sounds like you, you need to know that you’re not alone. A lot of people are so phobic about going to the dentist that they prefer not to have any treatment at all, which only makes their problems worse!

For people who avoid dentists like the plague, sedation dentistry may take away some of their anxiety. There are many forms of administering the sedation and it can be used for everything from an invasive procedure to a simple teeth cleaning or exam. How it’s used depends on the severity of the fear and the intensity of the procedure.

Sedation is highly recommended and most appropriate for people who have a real fear or experience anxiety or a phobia that is preventing them from going to the dentist and getting the treatment that they need.

If you experience any of the following, you may make an excellent candidate for sedation dentistry:

So what exactly is sedation dentistry?

Some people call it sleep dentistry but that is not entirely accurate. Sedation medication is administered via inhalation, orally (in a pill or liquid you take) and through an IV in your arm or hand. The way sedation medication is given depends on the severity of the fear and the length and difficulty of the procedure. During the entire visit, you are monitored by trained doctors and specialists.

There are different levels of sedation that are used depending on the individual needs of the patient. These are minimal sedation – you are awake but relaxed, moderate sedation (formerly called “conscious sedation”) – you may slur your words when speaking and not remember much of the procedure, deep sedation – you are on the edge of consciousness but can still be awakened, and general anesthesia – you are completely unconscious.

Sometimes the need for sedation dentistry comes from the amount of work that a patient needs. If the work would require multiple dental office visits and procedures, a lot of time away from school or work, and more recovery time, we can typically do most or all of that work in just one visit with sedation.

Only a small percentage of dentists are qualified to administer some form of sedation dentistry. Those dentists who have completed the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) program in deep sedation and general anesthesia can use the more complex techniques of giving a patient sedation medication.

There are so many people that have been hurt when they were kids, or even as adults, by a dentist that they initially went to because they needed help

Those dentists may have caused the patient to have a negative experience or the patient may have had a lot of pain after their visit and now they associate the dentist with that negativity and pain. People are afraid of being hurt, but I think it’s two fold because they are also afraid of being out of control. In any other “normal” situation you can run away from someone if they are hurting you. But for a patient who fears the dentist, as soon as they lay that chair back, they are afraid of being “stuck” in that position with a dentist working very closely to them and that is causing them pain. A lot of times, dentists haven’t gone through these procedures for themselves and they’ve had very little dental work themselves overall so there is very little empathy from the dentist. They can’t understand how the patient is feeling.

At Texas Sedation Dental and Implant Center, we practice empathy

Dr. Kendall speaks openly about his experiences growing up with various dental issues and treatments, so he understands what it is like to be afraid and weary of the dentist. We cater to people who are afraid of the dentist and who have been hurt by the dentist before. At our office, the patient is always in control; At any moment, they can raise their hand to stop the procedure or to get whatever they need. We cater to people who need a little bit of extra help. We want people to come into our office and feel safe and taken care of and know that they are in a safe space.

We are very experienced and highly trained to utilize IV Sedation. It’s a conscious sedation that allows us to administer medicine to a person so that they will be completely relaxed during their entire dental visit and they will have most or even complete amnesia where they won’t remember a single thing from their appointment. It puts their mind at ease just knowing they won’t remember having the work done and that they will “wake up” with a brand new smile.

Have you been hurt or are you afraid of the dentist? Has it been a long time since you’ve been to the dentist because of that fear? You can have IV Sedation and have all of your dental work done in as little as one day. Call now for a free consultation and we can discuss your options for IV Sedation.

How safe is sedation dentistry?

With any dental or medical procedure, there is always a risk associated with getting anesthesia. It is safe when given by an experienced and trained dentist.

It’s important that your dentist is experienced, trained, and qualified to administer the type of sedation you will be needing for your procedure.

Before your procedure, your medical history will be reviewed. Your dentist will then determine if you are an appropriate candidate for sedation and they will ask you about any medications you are currently taking.

You will also receive a form that details the risks and precautions associated with the procedure. The doctor will review this with you and you can at this point, ask any questions you may have or discuss if you’re unclear on any of the wording.

The dentist will fully monitor your vital signs during the procedure and will follow all of the American Dental Association’s guidelines. Oxygen will also be available and provided if needed and medicines that can reverse the effects of the sedation will be on hand in case you may need them.

Texas Sedation Dental and Implant Center is highly trained and qualified to provide sedation dentistry services. We have state-of-the-art technology combined with years of education and experience that will not only make your dental visit safe, but it will also put your mind and body at ease for the duration of your visit.

If you have been hurt or had a bad dental experience in the past, if you need more work done than can be completed in one visit, or if you have a phobia of the dentist, then come in for a complimentary consultation and we can go over your options for sedation dentistry. Everyone should be able to achieve their dream smile.