Skip to main content

How Does Sedation Dentistry Work?

Regular dental cleanings and checkups keep your teeth in tiptop shape and may help prevent more complicated dental issues. But you may not care if you’d rather deal with the agonizing pain of a toothache than sit in the dentist’s chair. Dental anxiety is a common problem and affects as many as 40 million Americans.

We get it. We do. That’s why here at Metairie Village Dentistry, Lisa Wyatt, DDS offers sedation dentistry. We don’t want you to skip your dental visits because of fear and anxiety. We not only provide treatments to help you feel relaxed, but we also provide gentle dental care to help ease your overall anxiety and maybe help you get over your fear.

Relaxing in the dentist’s chair?!

Yes, we know. It sounds like an oxymoron. But we can help you relax in the dental chair with sedation dentistry. Fear of the dentist is very common. You may avoid the dentist because you’re orally sensitive or you had a bad experience with a drill when you were a kid. Whatever the cause, we can help.

At Metairie Village Dentistry, we customize your sedation to meet your very exact needs. We offer mild to moderate sedation options so you can get through your dental treatment without feeling as though your heart is going to burst through your chest. 

As just mentioned, we offer a number of sedation options to meet your very specific dental fear needs. For sedation dentistry we offer:

Oral Sedation

We are proud to offer the option of oral sedation for your dental care, which is a pill you take as directed before your procedure. In addition to feeling relaxed, you may feel a bit groggy and possibly fall asleep during your dental treatment, but we can easily wake you up. 

Intravenous (I.V.) Sedation

With a tiny needle, our licensed medical professional gently injects a sedative into your arm. I.V. sedation will not put you all the way to sleep, and you will be conscious, pain-free, and able to respond. For both oral sedation and I.V. sedation, you need a ride home after oral conscious sedation.

Inhaled Sedation

We use nitrous oxide for some in-office sedation dentistry. This is an easy and easy way to help you to feel relaxed in the dentist’s chair. 

General Anestheisa 

For some procedures, we offer general anesthesia, which is circulated throughout your body. General anesthesia will cause you to fall fully asleep, and remain completely pain-free. 

We determine the best method of sedation dentistry for you based on your level of anxiety and the type of procedure we’re performing.

Is sedation dentistry for you?

Maybe. We can help you determine if you would benefit from sedation dentistry when you come in for a consultation. If your dental phobia is so severe it’s keeping you from getting needed dental care, then sedation treatment may make the best option for you. You may also consider it if you have:

You may need to get clearance from your medical doctor before we can offer sedation dentistry, especially if you have a medical history of heart disease or a respiratory condition. We also take your mental and current physical health into consideration when designing your sedation dentistry plan.

Don’t let your fear keep you from getting necessary dental work. We can help you feel relaxed when you come in for care here at Metairie VIllage Dentistry with our gentle touch and sedation dentistry. Call the office today or book online.

You Might Also Enjoy...

Laser Periodontal Therapy: Gain Without the Pain

When gum disease becomes advanced, treatment is more complex. Traditional gum surgery involves incisions and stitches, leading to discomfort and pain. Fortunately, laser periodontal therapy produces results without the pain.