Sedation Dentistry – Overcome your fear of the dentist
Typically, there are three things that keep people from coming to the dentist – lack of time, lack of money and fear. Fear is a huge obstacle for some people. Yet it’s something that we help patients overcome every day with sedation dentistry within our dental office.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry, or sleep dentistry, uses medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. There are several levels of sedation dentistry – from minimal sedation, where the patient is awake but relaxed, to general anesthesia, where the patient is unconscious.
At Dr. Saylor’s cosmetic dental office near Tampa Florida, we use a conscious oral sedation. Patients will be awake but very relaxed, and still able to respond to verbal commands. The sedative is administered orally in two doses. Patients take a low-dose, long-acting sedative the night before the procedure. Then a shorter-acting dosage when they arrive for their appointment.
The sedative – Triazolam – relaxes the sympathetic nervous system. This lowers their heart rate and blood pressure, and thus anxiety.
Are you a good candidate?
Sedation dentistry has been found to be extremely beneficial for patients who:
- Have dental anxiety
- Require comprehensive dentistry
- Have high blood pressure
- Have trouble getting numb
- Have a strong involuntary gag reflex
- Are claustrophobic
To ensure that a patient is a good candidate for sedation dentistry, we require a health assessment to check for any medical problems.
Achieve your dental goals with sedation dentistry
Fear of the dentist is much like a fear of flying. It’s not the destination that scares you, it’s how you’re getting there. Don’t let fear hold you back from the smile you’ve always dreamed of.
Sedation dentistry allows us to create a beautiful smile without the nerves associated with sitting in the dentists’ chair. A four-hour appointment will feel like 30-minutes to the patient, allowing our staff to achieve more in fewer appointments. Fewer appointments, mean less anxiety, putting you one step closer to a beautiful smile.
Contact us today to find out how sedation dentistry can help you overcome your fear of the dentist.
