Sedation Dentistry Jacksonville, FL
Going to the dentist can be scary for many people, but for some, the mere thought of visiting the dentist causes extreme emotional distress. This severe dental anxiety can prevent you from getting much-needed care, especially without support to manage these fears. But there’s good news: we offer sedation dentistry at our Jacksonville, FL, dental clinic. Here’s how we can help you get dental care comfortably and without overwhelming panic.
Understanding Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry involves using medication to help you feel less anxious and more comfortable during your dental visits. It’s an excellent option whether you’re coming in for a basic checkup or restoration services.
In addition to controlling anxiety, this approach to dental care offers many benefits, such as:
- Minimizes discomfort: Sedation helps reduce any physical discomfort you might feel during dental procedures. By relaxing your body and mind, the medications increase your comfort and can even control your gag reflex.
- Increases safety: Anxiety can pose risks if you experience intense stress or panic while in the dental chair. Sedation helps you stay calm, which can decrease stress-related complications like high blood pressure.
- Saves time: If you try to work through anxiety on your own, dental visits can take much longer than they might otherwise. Sedation helps you relax, so you spend less time in the chair and need fewer appointments to complete each procedure.
Overall, sedation simply makes dental care visits easier for you. So, it’s definitely a valuable option if you feel nervous or uncomfortable about getting dental care. It’s how we can provide the necessary treatments comfortably, safely, and efficiently.
Signs You Might Benefit from Sedation
You might consider our sedation dentistry services if you:
- Feel nervous, fearful, or panicky about going to the dentist
- Have had a bad experience at the dentist in the past
- Experience a strong gag reflex that prevents care
- Need major dental work or several procedures in one visit
- Have difficulty getting totally numb from local anesthetics
If you recognize any of these signs, talk to your dentist about sedation medications. Our care team can create a custom treatment plan that includes the ideal types of dental sedatives for your needs. We’re always here to transform your care experience into one that’s relaxed and fear-free.
Most Common Types of Dental Sedatives
Not every dental sedative works the same for each person. Knowing this, our team will take the time to select the best medications for your needs.
We weigh factors like your health history, level of dental anxiety, and dental care needs to determine what might work best. Then, we explain our findings to you, addressing all questions and concerns before proceeding with the procedure.
Most patients can benefit from either of the two following types of sedation medications.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Often referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a popular choice for reducing dental anxiety. You breathe it in through a mask that goes over your nose. It helps you stay calm and relaxed but still awake throughout the procedure. This allows you to talk to your dentist if needed and remain aware of what’s happening around you.
The effects of laughing gas wear off quickly after removing the mask. Your dentist will help the medication wear off faster by administering oxygen before having you take the mask off. Since you won’t feel sedated after that, you can go about your day normally after your visit. Many patients even drive themselves home afterward.
Oral Sedation Medications
Oral sedation medications are taken by mouth an hour or more before your dental visit. Some are taken the night before, especially for patients who have trouble sleeping before their visit or need heavier anesthesia on the day of the procedure. Dosage and timing depend on the specific medication given.
Many medications for sedation dentistry can make you feel drowsy. You might even get so relaxed that you fall asleep during your visit. In most cases, you can stay awake with some effort or ask your dentist to give you a gentle nudge to wake you up if you nod off. This type of sedation does require someone to drive you home, though, as the effects can take a while to wear off.
Is Jacksonville, FL Sedation Dentistry Right for You?
Deciding if our Jacksonville, FL, sedation dentistry services are right for you is an important step toward getting anxiety-free dental care. Some ways you can tell if sedatives might help are if you dread dental visits, feel anxious about even making your appointment, or have difficulty getting through dental procedures comfortably.
You don’t have to make this decision alone, either. As a patient-first dental practice, our team is happy to help you weigh your care options. We’ll sit down with you to review the different sedative medications and answer your questions about how they work. Together, we’ll evaluate whether sedation dentistry could benefit you, making it easier to decide how to proceed.
What to Expect During Your Sedation Dentistry Visit
To provide a stress-free dental experience, our team aims to take the mystery out of every visit. To do that, we always go over our care plan with you in detail, answering all your questions along the way.
Although every visit has the potential to be different, here’s a look at the general steps you might go through during a sedation dentistry appointment.
- Before your appointment: Our team will let you know how to prepare for your visit. This might include not eating for a few hours before your appointment time. You might also need to find someone to drive you to and from the clinic.
- When you arrive: Our staff will warmly welcome you through the doors and help you get comfortable when you get to the clinic. If you’re feeling a bit nervous or have questions, we’re here to help.
- Getting the sedation: Depending on the sedation type, you might take an oral medication before you come in or after you arrive. If you’re getting nitrous oxide, we’ll administer it in the clinic.
- During your dental work: Our team will complete your dental care treatments once you’re sedated and relaxed. You won’t feel worried, panicked, or otherwise uncomfortable. And we’ll keep an eye on you to make sure all is well.
- After the procedure: After we’re done, you can take a little time to let the sedation wear off. If you took oral medication, you might still feel sleepy, so having someone to drive you home is good.
We’ll likely have you return later to check how you’re doing. During that visit, we’ll confirm you got the desired results and provide any additional aftercare instructions you may need.
Call to Take the Next Step Toward Stress-Free Dental Care
At our clinic, we believe that everyone deserves a comfortable, stress-free dental experience. When dental anxiety no longer stands in your way, you can make your oral health a priority without feeling panicked.
To get started, call our team today to learn more about sedation dentistry or simply book your visit. We just need to know when you have time to come in so that we can reserve your place on our schedule.
Our team looks forward to helping you tackle your dental care goals without anxiety. So, please feel free to get in touch at your convenience to make your appointment.
