A lot of people are scared of the dentist – in some polls it comes out as one of the top ten phobias in the world! There has been a lot of emphasis placed on comfortable, fear-free dentistry in the past few decades, and at Shorewood Family Dental Care we’re proud to be able to offer a variety of ways to overcome dental anxiety. Sedation dentistry is one of the most popular ways to get over dental fear, and a lot of people think that’s where it ends. Those people simply don’t realize how helpful sedation dentistry benefits can be! It’s great for nervous patients, but that’s just one of the many sedation dentistry benefits!
#1: You’re Just Too Busy
There has long been a limit to the amount of time someone can spend in the dental chair, and it’s nowhere near long enough for some of the more complicated dental procedures out there. This can be a problem for a lot of people – they don’t have time to schedule multiple appointments for one service.
If that sounds like you then you’re in luck: sedation is a great way to get over that limit that keeps you from getting a complicated procedure done in one go. We can handle most everything we do in a single appointment, and with sedation you can too!
#2: Dental Care Can Be Boring
You chat with the doctor at their office, your barber or stylist when you get a haircut, and most anyone else who you do business with can be talked to while you do it. Not the case with dentistry. For a lot of patients that makes getting care either boring (how much ceiling can you stare at) or awkward (where exactly are you supposed to stare?).
Another one of the sedation dentistry benefits is that even the most mild forms, can make that boredom and awkwardness pass without incident. It might not seem like it, but some forms of that reaction stem from a bit of anxiety about dental care, and by helping you relax we can make the appointment much easier.
#3: It Lowers Your Gag Reflex
It’s amazing how sensitive your throat can be, and without even the slightest bit of contact at all! It’s almost like you can sense something passing a certain point in your mouth, and then it’s almost impossible to prevent yourself from gagging.
A high gag reflex can be embarrassing, inconvenient, and it can make some dental procedures difficult. If you’re worried about a high gag reflex sedation is a great option – even something simple like nitrous oxide can make a huge difference.
You don’t even need to be unconscious to get some relief from a high gag reflex. Just relaxing your muscles and mind can be more than effective enough.
#4: You Won’t Remember Treatment At All
The higher levels of IV sedation that we offer are amnesiacs, meaning that by the time they wear off you won’t remember your appointment at all. This is an ideal solution for patients scared of the care they’re going to receive, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of this amazing aspect of dental sedation.
Oral sedation is amnesic without even knocking you out. You can actually get relaxed, feel at ease, and not remember a thing all while remaining awake. It’s a great solution for those scared of being put under just to get the benefits it would provide!
What Kind Of Sedation Do We Offer?
There are four sedation options available at Shorewood Family Dental Care, each perfect for different patients with different needs.
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, will calm you and make your appointment pass with ease. You’ll still be awake throughout treatment, but you probably won’t care what’s going on at all!
Oral sedation is quite a bit stronger: you won’t remember your procedure at all once it wears off. We prescribe oral sedation at the dentist in pill form prior to your appointment. You just take it before you come in and by the time you sit down you’ll already be feeling drowsy. Don’t forget to bring a friend or family member, as you won’t be able to drive home afterward.
IV sedation is the highest level we offer. Also called “twilight sedation,” one of the main IV sedation benefits is that it leaves you awake enough to respond to commands but otherwise completely asleep. You’ll be out until we stop the application of sedation, making this the perfect option for long procedures. You’ll need a driver with you for this level as well.
Sedation Dentistry Benefits Mostly Everyone!
It doesn’t matter whether you’re scared, busy, or just don’t want to remember your appointment: there are many sedation dentistry benefits for dental care. We’re always here to help, so don’t hesitate to contact us to learn everything you want to know about the benefits of sedation dentistry.
You can schedule an appointment with us online or you can reach our Shorewood office by calling 815-725-5991. We look forward to seeing you soon!
