Lafayette, LA Sedation Dentist

If the idea of going to a dentist gives you a feeling of dread, you are not the only one and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Research shows that half the people in the United States describe themselves as having some level of a dental phobia.

It’s a compounding problem because the more you avoid the dentist, the more likely you are to end up with a dental emergency, which in turn feeds the fear. The good news is, we have a solution.

Most dental anxieties stem from a traumatic experience in the dental chair. The only way to change the feelings and fear that result from those experiences is to create new, positive ones. Two things help that to happen. First, dentists who understand dental anxiety and know how to relax their patients without passing judgment. Second, a way to aid them in feeling relaxed. The best way to do that is by offering dental sedation options. We have two different levels of dental sedation available.

Dental Sedation Option One: Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is a mild level of dental sedation and is appropriate for those with mild to moderate anxiety. Many people know it by its nickname, laughing gas. It is administered with a simple nosepiece that has a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen. You lay back, breathe it in, and feel the relaxation wash over you.

It also has the benefit of allowing you to get on with your day as normal once the procedure is finished. At the end of your appointment, we turn off the nitrous oxide and give you pure oxygen. In just a few moments, you are lucid and ready to go.

Dental Sedation Option Two: Oral Conscious Sedation

Some need a more powerful way to relax than laughing gas. When we have a patient in that situation, we offer oral conscious sedation. Administered with a simple pill, oral conscious sedation is strong enough to relax you to the point that it may feel like you have slept through the entire appointment and don’t remember any of it. However, you are actually conscious the whole time and able to respond to simple commands, such as opening your mouth.

However, the strength of oral conscious sedation means you will need to spend the remainder of your day relaxing at home. Nap. Read a book. Catch up on your favorite TV series. You will also need someone to drive you to and from your appointment and won’t be able to resume normal activities for several hours.

If you’ve been avoiding the dentist because of anxiety, trying dental sedation could change the way you view the dental chair and help you get your oral health back on track. If this is something you’d like to consider, you may call our office or click here to request an appointment online.