Knowing you have an upcoming dental appointment can be nerve-wracking for some. Even if you’re in good hands, there’s something about the thought of being at the dentist that can sometimes feel intimidating! Several services are offered at Serene Dental Center to help ease some of that tension, including sedation dentistry services. If you’re suffering from dental anxiety or want to get through a procedure as quickly as possible, our skilled team is here to help. For those unfamiliar with it, sedation dentistry is the use of anesthesia and other conscious-altering agents during dental procedures. It allows patients to remain relaxed throughout the process and recover faster afterward. Serene Dental Center is a family-friendly dental practice that prioritizes the health and comfort of its patients. It’s important to us to make sure that every patient, from young to old, feels safe and secure in our office. If you’re nervous about visiting the dentist, you’ll find a friendly face and a hands-on approach tailored to your needs and comfort level. We offer sedation dentistry services, including nitrous oxide, oral, and intravenous sedation. If you’re anxious about your procedure and want to use sedation dentistry, contact our office to discuss your options. Our team will help you understand how sedation dentistry works and determine the best course of action for you. You may have heard that sedation dentistry can be used to treat patients with dental phobias or provide patients with general anesthesia for other types of surgeries. Dental sedation can also be good for patients with certain special needs, or if they’re undergoing extensive treatments. Dental sedation is a form of anesthesia that a dentist puts into effect by administering a drug intravenously (through a vein), intramuscularly (into a muscle), or sublingually (under the tongue). Dental sedation may be used in many dental procedures to make them easier for patients. This can include procedures or treatments that cause pain, take a long time, or otherwise cause patients to feel uncomfortable and anxious, such as dental surgeries, root canals, and other restorative procedures. Nitrous oxide is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) that acts as a general anesthetic. Dentists use this drug to help patients relax and make them less sensitive to pain during a wide range of dental procedures. Nitrous oxide is also known as "laughing gas" for its ability to produce feelings of calmness and ease anxiety associated with dental visits. When nitrous oxide is used for dental sedation, most patients are in a light sleep-like state and can answer questions from the dentist or nurse. IV sedation is a state of consciousness in which one does not feel pain and relaxes in a semi-sleep state. Some examples of IV sedation could include a combination of the following drugs: This is a benzodiazepine that is used to relieve anxiety and relax patients. This general anesthetic slows a patient’s heart rate and puts them in a state of sleep. This is a synthetic opioid that is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Oral sedation is a type of sedation that is administered through a pill that the patient takes before their procedure. Oral sedation drugs are prescription drugs that vary in how much they calm you down. Therefore, the patient needs to tell their dentist about any medication(s) they are taking to prevent any unwanted side effects. Some people choose oral sedation to get through a lengthy dental procedure like a root canal. Sedation dentistry is an excellent choice for people apprehensive of the dentist. It’s not just for kids or teenagers, but also for adults dealing with severe anxiety and apprehensions about visiting the dentist. Sedation dentistry is for you if you have dental anxiety. In addition to the symptoms listed above, many patients also experience the following: Dental anxiety is a condition that impacts millions of people. For many, visiting the dentist is a stressful situation that can cause significant discomfort and even lead to missed appointments. If you’re one of these patients, you may want to consider sedation dentistry. If you have a disability that causes you to feel anxious about visiting the dentist, sedation dentistry could be an excellent option. For example, patients who have particularly sensitive teeth or sensitive gag reflexes can benefit from dental sedation. Patients with other medical conditions that make dental treatment more difficult are also good candidates for sedation dentistry. It’s important to note that sedation dentistry is different than general anesthesia. Sedation dentistry is a controlled substance that induces a drowsy or sleepy feeling. You may be nervous about how your treatment will progress if you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment, gum treatment, or other extensive dental treatment. If you’re experiencing dental anxiety during your visits, talk to your dentist about the option of sedation dentistry. Orthodontic treatment, for example, can be a challenging experience for patients because it often involves frequent visits to the dentist and extended treatment times and can even result in a bit of pain. The team at Serene Dental Center is here to help ease your anxiety and get you through treatment as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you’re suffering from dental anxiety or want to get through a procedure as quickly as possible, our skilled team is here to help. We offer sedation dentistry services, including nitrous oxide, oral, and intravenous sedation. If you’re anxious about your procedure and want to use sedation dentistry, contact our office to discuss your options. Our team will help you understand how sedation dentistry works and determine the best course of action for you. At Serene Dental Center, we believe that a healthy smile is the foundation of a happy and successful life. We are committed to helping you achieve your dental goals by providing the latest innovations in dental care and education. We provide a wide variety of services, including teeth whitening, dental implants, and Invisalign. We are committed to providing excellent care with a gentle touch. Our goal is to help you maintain your optimal oral health and achieve the smile you want. As soon as you walk in, you'll see how much we care about giving excellent care and making the place feel like home.Our Office and Our Commitment
How Does Dental Sedation Work?
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
Midazolam
Propofol
Fentanyl
Oral Sedation
Who Is It For?
Patients Who Experience Dental Anxiety
Patients with Special Needs
Patients Undergoing Extensive Treatment
Compassionate Sedation Dentists in Irvine, CA
The Dental Difference at Serene Dental Center
There are three main ways that dental sedatives can be administered. The first and most common type of dental sedation is a nitrous oxide sedation, which is a gas breathed in through a nose mask. Another common method is intravenous (IV) sedation, which is administered through an IV drip and very quickly puts the patient to sleep. The other method that is sometimes employed is oral sedation, which requires the patient to take doses of oral sedatives before the dental appointment.
Dental sedation affects everyone differently. Some patients enter a deep dream-like state of relaxation, in which they can still respond to verbal cues from the dentist, while others fall into a deep sleep. Either way, local anesthetic will still be administered to numb your teeth and mouth, so you won’t feel a thing. Your required dental treatment will be very comfortable and anxiety-free, and you will have little to no recollection of the entire experience when you walk out of our Irvine office.
All the dental sedatives we use are completely safe, and all our patients are pre-screened to make sure they can tolerate the medication problem-free and to help choose the best sedative option for them. Regardless of the type of sedation dentistry used, you must attend your dental appointment with an escort who can help get you home after the treatment. Under no circumstances can you drive after being sedated.
The most common candidates for sedation dentistry are people who suffer from a high level of dental anxiety, so much so that they may put off trips to the dentist because they don’t want to set foot in the office. Dental sedation can help such patients feel at ease with the knowledge that they will be sedated for the duration of their dental procedure. That way, they can receive the dental care they need when they need it.
People who have special needs are also often administered sedatives to provide them with safer, more comfortable dental treatments. For example, patients who have particularly sensitive teeth or sensitive gag reflexes can benefit from dental sedation. Patients who have other medical conditions that make dental treatment more difficult are also good candidates for sedation dentistry.
The third group of patients who may be treated using sedation dentistry is people who need to undergo one or several lengthy dental procedures. Examples of longer procedures that we might recommend dental sedation for are root canals and dental implant restoration. Even if you don’t have anxiety about treatments such as these, being sedated ensures that you remain relaxed and comfortable throughout the whole process.
Don’t put off a visit to the dentist any longer because of dental anxiety or special needs. Our dentists are here to help make your next trip to the dentist’s office comfortable and stress-free using the most advanced sedation dentistry techniques. Our team is available to answer any questions you have, discuss your concerns and options, and help you choose the best dental sedation treatment for you.
Call or visit our online scheduling page and experience our high-quality dentistry care in comfort and gentleness. Come get the Serene Experience!
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