Fear of Dentist: Overcome Your Fear with Sedation Dentistry

Dental anxiety and fear is one of the top reasons why patients avoid receiving dental care..

It is so common that in Canada, about 40% experience some form of dental anxiety. Patients are less likely to seek dental care, whether it is for routine or emergency procedures. This can ultimately result in increased risk of dental diseases.

At Sierra Dental, our patients who suffer from dental fear say it is from a past traumatic experience, a previous dental treatment, or low pain tolerance.

To ease their worries, we offer safe and effective sedation options, including oral sedation, IV sedation, and laughing gas, to ensure a more relaxed, pain-free dental visit.

Here’s how it can help you if you are dealing with dental fear or anxiety.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation Dentistry involves the use of medications to help calm patients during dental procedures. This can be in the form of oral medication, IV drugs, or medicated gas. Depending on the technique and dosage, the effects can range from mild numbness to moderate to deep sedation.

At Sierra Dental, we use oral sedation, IV sedation, and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in our clinic. With the help of dentists and specialists with advanced training in providing sedation, we ensure that our treatments are always safely done.

Types of Sedation at Sierra Dental

In our clinic, we offer three options for dental sedation:

Oral Sedation

Our dentists will prescribe a pill to be taken a few hours before the procedure. Oral sedation will make you groggy, but you should still be able to respond and communicate. The effects of the oral sedative may last after treatment. Therefore, it is best to arrange for a family member or friend to accompany you after your visit.

Nitrous Oxide

This is most commonly known as “laughing gas” and is inhaled to produce the desired anesthetic effect. The advantage of this sedation option is that the calming effect can be achieved in just under 5 minutes.

When the procedure is done, oxygen is given to flush out the drug, immediately wearing off its effects. Nitrous Oxide is often recommended for children who need extra support during their treatments.

IV Sedation

This is the deepest form of sedation that can be achieved in the dental office and is administered through IV. This is an excellent option for patients who need lengthy procedures. The dosage of IV sedation is readily controlled by the administering dentist to manage how much you receive and how long the effects will last.

At Sierra Dental, our team has advanced training to deliver safe IV sedation treatments.

For some patients, general anesthesia may be recommended especially for complex surgeries. A licensed anesthesiologist will administer the sedative to render the patient completely unconscious.

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry for Overcoming Fear

Sierra Dental understands how dental fear can affect oral health. And with the help of our experienced dentists, sedation has truly made a difference in the way we deliver dental care.

Here’s how we have helped our patients by including sedation dentistry in their treatment plan.

Reduces anxiety and stress

Having sedatives available in our clinic helps alleviate nervousness and makes patients feel calm during dental treatments.

Allows the dentist to perform safe and smooth procedures

With the help of sedation, patients are more relaxed in treatment, allowing our team to provide the necessary care. At Sierra Dental, this is especially helpful with children or patients with difficulty controlling movement.

Helps complete complex and multiple treatments at one

Putting the patient in a state of relaxation or unconsciousness allows dental procedures to be completed in one go. This improves convenience by reducing the number of dental visits.

Increases comfort and overall experience

Patients with poor tolerance to pain or those who have sensitive teeth or gag reflex can receive dental care without any discomfort.

Is Sedation Dentistry For You?

• Our sedation dentist may recommend this procedure if you:
• Have severe dental phobia or anxiety
• Have a low pain tolerance, sensitive teeth, or strong gag reflex
• Have special needs, including physical, behavioural, cognitive
• Have medical conditions that may be exacerbated by stress, such as epilepsy or hypertension
• Need to have multiple or complex procedures done, such as dental implants or wisdom tooth surgery

Sedation is not always ideal for everyone. At Sierra Dental, our team will complete a thorough assessment of your medical history and overall health to determine your eligibility for sedation and the safest dosage we can provide. This will prevent complications during and after sedation treatment.

If you are unable to receive sedation due to certain unmet requirements, our sedation team will discuss alternative options so you can still receive the care you need.

Safety Considerations and Potential Side Effects

At Sierra Dental, we abide by strict protocols and guidelines for our patients who receive any form of sedation. During your treatment, your vitals will be monitored to ensure you are stable and comfortable throughout.

While sedation is generally safe for many patients, it does have side effects. As part of our pre-treatment procedure, we recommend that you arrange for someone to drive you to and from our clinic.

Some common side effects we observe include:

• Drowsiness or grogginess
• Dry mouth or mild nausea
• Temporary memory loss

Side effects are usually minimal and should resolve shortly.

Contact Us Today

Whether it is about a traumatic dental experience or sensitivity to pain, our team at Sierra Dental helps put you at ease with several options for sedation.

With the help of our trained sedation dentists, you can relax knowing that our priority is your safety and long-term health.

Contact us today at (403) 297-9600 to learn about how we can include this in your treatment plan!