Thanks to sedation dentistry dental anxiety can now be considered a thing of the past. If the idea of having a dental procedure makes your heart race and your palms sweat, you may be like the 30-40 million Americans who have a dental phobia. At Metairie Village Dentistry in Metairie, Louisiana, Lisa Wyatt, DDS, and her team offer a variety of sedation dentistry services for both adult and pediatric patients. Sedation dentistry can reduce patient anxiety while providing the treatment and care you need in a safe and healthy way. To learn more, call the office or request an appointment online today.
Sedation dentistry uses various medications to assist patients with dental anxiety. Medications are used to help you relax (a sedative) and to prevent pain (an anesthetic) during a dental procedure. You will feel drowsy and relaxed. Dr. Wyatt will monitor you throughout the procedure as well as stay with you at all times.
You will still be breathing on your own, but you may receive extra oxygen through a mask. Medications can be given orally or via (IV) intravenous fluids through a catheter (tube). You may fall asleep and respond to people in the room to verbal cues. After conscious sedation, you may feel drowsy and not remember much about your procedure.
Conscious sedation allows patients to have dental procedures done safely and comfortably.
Dr. Wyatt and the team at Metairie Village Dentistry offer multiple types of sedation dentistry. To determine which option is best for you, your provider will factor in the type of treatment you need, your health, and how long the procedure takes. In most cases, they will recommend one of the following:
If you opt for sedation dentistry, remember to bring a friend or family member with you to your procedure, as you will need someone to drive you home.
While sedation dentistry provides benefits for many people, it’s not right for everyone. Depending on your medical history, Dr. Wyatt may not recommend sedation. Some chronic conditions make sedation too risky, or you may take medications that interfere with the sedative’s effectiveness.
All dental procedures can be performed with dental sedation to ensure patient comfort is the highest priority.
While dental sedation offers a solution for dental anxiety, it can help other patients too. When you have a strong gag reflex, TMJ, or struggle to stay still, sedation dentistry makes certain procedures easier.
It’s also an option for lengthy dental treatments, such as dental implants, or when you want to have a lot of dental work done at once for a full-mouth restoration.
Sedation dentistry also allows for medications to prevent infection and swelling to be placed in an IV to improve postoperative comfort during your healing and recovery.
If you think sedation can help you get the dental work you need, call Metairie Village Dentistry or request an appointment online today.
