Overcome Dental Anxiety, Get the Dental Care You Need
Dental anxiety, or fear and anxiety of the dentist, is enough of a problem that can stop millions of people worldwide from going to the dentist at all! Skipping the dentist is a poor decision because it can lead to developing or worsening oral health issues. Your Long Island, NY, dentist, located in West Sayville, can offer sedation dentistry for patients who feel trepidation or fear about their dental visit. Learn more by dialing 631-563-1583.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry, also known as sleep dentistry, refers to the chemical methods your dentist can use to keep you calm and pain-free during your dental procedure. By relieving feelings of fear and making you more resistant to pain, your dentist can help you overcome dental anxiety. That way, you’re more likely to attend your appointments and get the care you need to maintain a beautiful, healthy smile.
Who Can Benefit From Sedation Dentistry?
People who may benefit from sedation dentistry include patients:
- With mild to severe dental fear
- Who are very young
- Who are unused to seeing a dentist
- Who have a strong gag reflex
- Who has a resistance to local anesthetic
- Who find it difficult to sit in the dental chair for long appointments
- Who have certain medical conditions or disabilities
- Who are elderly and more prone to fear and embarrassment around their oral health
Who Isn’t a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
Few patients may require clearance from their primary care provider before receiving sedation. You may not qualify if you have one or more of the following health issues:
- Cardiac Disease
- Respiratory Disease
- Uncontrolled Diabetes
- Uncontrolled Hypertension
Sedation dentist Dr. Sigismondi will explore every factor that may lead to complications beforehand to ensure your safety.
Types of Available Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is the most widely utilized form of sedation in modern dentistry. You’ll inhale the colorless, non-flammable gas through a mask and begin to feel the effects. As the name implies, you’ll likely feel slightly giddy and euphoric. As a form of conscious sedation, you’ll be able to remain awake and responsive after application. You might fall asleep because you feel so relaxed, but our West Sayville dental staff will wake you up.
Nitrous oxide is in-office, and the effects tend to wear off within minutes of the sedation being stopped. Unlike other forms of sedation, the effects of the nitrous oxide wear off so quickly that you can leave soon after the gas is stopped and even drive home.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation involves taking a pill prescribed by your West Sayville sleep dentist at a calculated time before your procedure. By the time you arrive at our dental office, the effects of the sedative should have set in.
Much like laughing gas, oral conscious sedation allows you to remain awake and responsive or woken up easily. However, the effects of oral sedation tend to last longer than nitrous oxide. You’ll need to procure reliable transportation home beforehand and not participate in driving or other risky activities for at least 24 hours afterward.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is a form of sedation that puts patients in controlled unconsciousness. Unlike local anesthetic, which affects only a part of your body, general anesthesia affects your entire body. The substances used in general anesthesia stop all signals to the brain. Unlike the other forms of sedation, general anesthesia will keep you asleep until the process is deviated by cutting off the supply of sedatives.
Once the anesthesia stops, you’ll probably wake up quickly. However, you’re likely to feel hazy and confused, and the effects can last up to two days after the initial application. You’ll need to secure reliable transportation home.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
- Eases Dental Fear – Sedation helps put patients in a relaxed state of mind and helps make all of their appointments easier.
- Makes Long Appointments Faster – Because you’ll be less aware or even asleep, your appointments will go by much faster, which can be especially useful for longer appointments.
- Increases Resistance to Pain and Discomfort – Substances used for sedation often have pain-eliminating properties to help keep patients even more comfortable during dental procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your safety is our number one concern. Rest assured that your trained local dentist and the rest of our dental staff will closely monitor your vitals. Before any sedation takes place, we’ll take steps to prevent complications.
Your dentist will advise you on what behaviors to avoid before your procedure, including what clothes to wear, how long you should fast for, etc. They’ll also thoroughly review your medical history and work with your primary care physician to check for factors that might make sedation unsafe.
Side effects of sedation vary from patient to patient based on numerous factors, including what type of sedation they underwent and their unique physiology. Some common side effects may include:
- Nausea
- Grogginess
- Confusion
- Short-term memory loss
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Sleepiness
Effects usually pass within a day or so, but if you find that your side effects are persisting or intolerable, please contact us as soon as possible.
The amount of time your sedative will last will depend on multiple factors, including the type of sedation you undergo, the length of your procedure, your unique physiology, etc.
Additionally, the time it will take for any side effects to wear off can vary from patient to patient. Your sedation dentist will give you a more accurate timeframe during your initial consultation.
Your insurance provider should cover your sedation dentistry option if medically necessary. We encourage you to call your provider beforehand and ask them which costs they can support and under which circumstances. You should also talk to your dentist about in-office financing options.