Are you fearful of going to the dentist? We want you to know you are not alone. We have treated numerous patients with dental phobias in our dental office. We have been very pleased to help relieve their fear during their appointments through three types of sedation dentistry in our Aurora, IL dental office. Continue reading to learn more about your options. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
For patients who suffer from moderate to severe dental anxiety, we offer oral conscious sedation, which only involves swallowing one pill about an hour before the appointment. By the time you arrive at our dental office, you’ll already feel at-ease as we direct you to your treatment room. Because the effects take a while to wear off, you’ll need to be prepared to have a trusted family member or friend drop you off and pick you up from our dental office.
Nitrous oxide is an excellent way to help ease any lingering fears, anxiety, or nervousness that you may feel about visiting your dentist in Aurora. Whether you’re someone who routinely reschedules appointments due to your dental anxiety or you’re not looking forward to undergoing a treatment that you need, our team at Sommers Family Dental can help you feel comfortable with nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide is an excellent choice for both children and adults, as it’s completely safe and perfect for those experiencing mild dental anxiety or fear. It’s also an excellent service for patients who deal with the following:
We typically don’t administer nitrous oxide to those who are pregnant, have sinus congestion, or deal with certain respiratory conditions. Before we administer nitrous oxide, our team will gather your medical history to ensure it’s safe and that you’re a good candidate.
Nitrous oxide is administered through a small nose mask that we’ll place onto your face. Through it, you’ll breathe in the sedation, quickly allowing you to enter a calm and relaxed state. Once the full effects have taken place, your sedation dentist in Aurora will begin your treatment as our trained staff monitor you throughout your care. Once the visit is complete, we’ll have you breathe in oxygen to help flush the effects from your system and make sure you’re fine to leave.
One great benefit of nitrous oxide sedation is that its effects wear off very quickly. Many of our patients only need to stay in our office for a few minutes following their treatment before they’re cleared to drive home. Depending on the procedure you received, you may be safe to carry on with the rest of your day as you normally would, like going to work or school. Some patients experience a lingering headache or some slight nausea after sedation, but this is typical and will dissipate with some time.
For people who are undergoing more complex procedures or who have extreme dental anxiety, we offer IV sedation. We will administer the medication directly into the bloodstream, causing the patient to feel immediately relaxed and at ease. Many patients who undergo IV sedation don’t remember anything about their appointment. This can be a great benefit for those who don’t want any more fearful memories of dental experiences. Read on to learn more about IV sedation, who makes and good candidate, and its benefits.
IV sedation is delivered directly into the bloodstream. This means that you will feel the effects of the medication almost right away. Even though you will be fully relaxed, you will remain awake through the treatment. However, you likely won’t have many memories from your time at the dental office. During your procedure, we will keep a close eye on your vitals to ensure that you are perfectly safe. After your procedure, the effects of the medicine will take some time to wear off, so it’s important that a trusted friend or family member takes you home.
IV Sedation is mostly used for oral surgeries and long procedures. It is able to help lessen high levels of anxiety associated with dental treatment or the dental office. Additionally, IV sedation is an excellent option for people who have a sensitive gag reflex, TMJ dysfunction, and neuromuscular issues that can make it challenging to keep their mouth open throughout the duration of a dental procedure. Before your treatment begins, we will discuss your anxiety levels, health history, and medications to rule out any possibility of complications.
A variety of benefits can be experienced through IV sedation. Here are a few of the most common ones that our patients experience: