Overcome Your Dental Anxiety
Receiving quality dental care in a timely manner is important to protect your oral health and overall well-being. Dental anxiety or phobia is a common issue that deters many patients from receiving the necessary care they need. If fear is keeping you from visiting the dentist, Dr. Moylan at the Alexandria Smile Center can help you overcome your dental anxiety with our safe sedation solutions.
With dental sedation, Dr. Moylan can make your visit a peaceful and painless experience. We can provide sedation options to alleviate your dental anxiety during a routine cleaning or significant procedures like implant placement. Read on to learn more about the types of dental sedation we offer.
Types of Dental Sedation
Nitrous oxide, often referred to as “laughing gas,” is a form of conscious sedation that’s administered as a gas through a breathing mask. You’ll stay awake and responsive during treatment but will feel relaxed and numb throughout your procedure.
Nitrous oxide is an excellent option for patients that have trouble staying still and calm for the duration of their treatment. It’s also effective for patients with sensitive teeth or an overactive gag reflex. When administered by a professional dentist like Dr. Moylan, nitrous oxide is extremely safe with reliable, predictable results. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly, so you’ll be able to drive yourself home after your appointment.
Oral conscious sedation is administered as a sedative pill that’ll numb your senses and dull any pain during your dental treatment. While you’ll remain awake during care, the experience will be very relaxing and can feel somewhat dreamlike. You may not remember much about your procedure after your appointment.
Oral conscious sedation takes longer to create the desired effect than nitrous oxide and will require a short wait before your procedure can begin. The sedative can leave you feeling drowsy, temporarily impairing your performance and reaction time over the next several hours. For this reason, it’s crucial that you’re driven home from your appointment by a friend, family member, or rideshare services like Uber or Lyft.
Get the High Quality Care You Need
Too many adults put off important oral health treatments due to fears about visiting the dentist. With gentle care and reliable sedation, Dr. Moylan can help you overcome your dental anxiety and protect your oral health. Find out how your next appointment can be a stress-free experience by calling the Alexandria Smile Center at (318) 545-7606.
