Mild Sedation Dentistry | Relaxation Dentistry
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Many people experience anxiety about undergoing dental work or even visiting the dentist at all, a fear known as dental phobia. This can keep them from seeking proper dental care and may be compromising their dental health. Relief for patients with dental phobia is now available through various forms of sedation dentistry.
Sedation dentistry involves the use of medication to provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience for people undergoing dental treatment. Although sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry," most patients remain awake after taking sedation medication and experience a sleepy feeling. There are several different methods available to achieve varying degrees of sedation, all depending on the type of procedure and preference of the patient.
At Argyle Dental Center, we offer mild sedation to our patients who feel that they need a little help dealing with their fear or anxiety associated with receiving dental treatment and care.
How Is Sedation Dentistry Different from Anesthesia?
Although mild sedation (often referred to as relaxation dentistry) produces a relaxed state, it does not produce the same effect as anesthesia, which is used for most dental procedures. Patients will still require local anesthesia through injection to help reduce the pain of the procedure. Mild sedation simply helps relieve the nerves and anxiety that often accompany seeing a dentist. The anesthesia is usually injected after the patient is sedated and relaxed to reduce anxiety about the actual injection.
What are the Benefits of Sedation Dentistry?
Many people are uneasy at just the thought of undergoing dental work. Mild sedation allows people to gain a sense of comfort about these often complex and lengthy procedures. It may also influence some patients to undergo elective procedures that they may have been apprehensive about before. Mild sedation / relaxation dentistry often lets many patients feel as though their lengthy procedures last for only a few minutes.
Patients that benefit from mild sedation dentistry include those who:
- Have a low pain threshold
- Have sensitive teeth
- Can't sit still in the dentist's chair
- Have a bad gag reflex
- Need a large amount of dental work done
It is important to discuss the individual risks of mild sedation dentistry with our staff, who can help you decide if you can benefit from this technique.
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
Interested in learning more about our sedation dentistry procedures? Call 904-352-1209 to schedule your consultation today! Our practice serves Jacksonville, FL & nearby areas.