Sedation dentistry is a way to relieve the stress and anxiety of dental visits. It involves some type of medication at the beginning of your appointment that will help you relax throughout your procedure. Sedation dentistry is available at La Jolla Cosmetic Dentistry for our patients that struggle with nervousness or fear before having dental work done. While it is not right for everyone, there are some patients that find sedation dentistry improves their experience in the dental chair and may even allow them to undergo treatments they were too fearful to attempt before.
Reasons to Consider Sedation Dentistry
You might want to consider sedation dentistry for your next appointment if you have:
- General anxiety about going to the dentist’s office
- Difficulty sitting still for long periods of time
- Sensitive teeth or a low pain threshold that increases your fear
- Extreme fear about a specific procedure
- Need to spend an extended amount of time in the chair for your procedure
Patients with any of these issues often report they enjoy a much more pleasant experience at the dentist’s office when sedation dentistry is used. Dr. Kohani offers more than one option in sedation dentistry at his La Jolla office, allowing patients to make a choice in the medication that will work the best for them.
Options in Sedation Dentistry
Dr. Kohani offers two different options in sedation dentistry:
Oral Sedation
This type of sedation involves a pill that is taken prior to your procedure. Oral sedation allows you to be awake but very relaxed throughout your procedure. It is a good choice for patients who have mild nervousness about their procedure or are anticipating a longer procedure than they are used to. Oral sedation takes a few hours to recover from completely, so patients that opt for this type of sedation will need someone to drive them home from their procedure.
Inhalation Sedation
This type of sedation uses nitrous oxide, which is administered by placing a mask over the patient’s nose and mouth. This mode of sedation works very quickly and delivers pain relief as well as sedation. Inhalation sedation is considered a safe method of sedation that can also eliminate the gag reflux during procedures. However, if too much of the medication is used, it can lead to undesired side effects like nausea.
Risks to Consider
Despite the benefits sedation dentistry offers, there are some potential risks associated with this approach. You will want to ensure the dentist you choose is well-versed in this type of dental treatment and that appropriate staff members are present to measure your progress and deal with potential complications. It is also important for your dentist to assess your full health history, so that you have peace-of-mind in knowing these medications will be safe for you.
Is Sedation Dentistry Right for You?
The staff at La Jolla Cosmetic Dentistry is well-trained and fully equipped to safely manage patients that opt for sedation dentistry. Dr. Kohani will explain the risks and benefits of sedation dentistry to help you decide if this is the right choice for you as well. To find out if sedation dentistry is the right choice for you, contact La Jolla Cosmetic Dentistry and Orthodontics at 858-295-0603.
