Fear can prevent us from doing things that we should not do, but it can also prevent us from doing things that we should do. Dental phobia is one of those fears that often prevents us from doing what we should do, which is going to the dentist for regular exams and important preventative dental care. At Gulf Dental, we respect your dental fears, which is why we offer sedation dentistry services. The specific types of dental sedation that offer are nitrous oxide sedation (or “laughing gas”) and oral conscious sedation.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) Sedation
With laughing gas, you wear a mask and inhale a carefully metered amount of sedative gas, which helps you to feel relaxed and at ease during your dental procedure. You will most likely be completely aware of everything that is going on, but your anxiety will be at a minimum. In fact, the name “laughing gas” is based on the relaxed, almost giddy state that some people experience when they are sedated. This type of sedation dentistry has been around for a very long time, and it is a well-tried, proven, safe method of sedation. This could be the perfect dental sedation method for you.
Oral Conscious Sedation
For some, having a mask put over their nose only adds to their anxiety of being at the dentist. If this is how you would describe yourself, then perhaps oral conscious sedation is a better option. With this type of sedation, you will be given an oral sedative in a dose that is specifically prescribed for you. Oral sedatives are slightly stronger than laughing gas, so you might feel sleepy during your procedure. This is also a tried and true method of sedation that is a safe alternative for adults and children. Be sure that you have a ride to and from your appointment.
We don’t want your fear of the dentist to keep from your dental appointments because missed dental appointments could lead to missed opportunities to stop serious dental problems. If you have anxieties about dental offices or dental procedures, give us a call at Gulf Dental to see if we can calm your concerns with sedation dentistry!
