Millions of people, around 15% of Americans according to surveys, avoid dental care because of dental fear or anxiety. These people live with infected, discolored, damaged, or otherwise painful teeth and potentially endanger their health instead of seeking dental care.
AH Smiles wishes to provide a judgment-free environment where everyone feels safe and comfortable to receive the dental treatment they need. To that end, we offer sedation dentistry in our Arlington Heights, IL dental office to help patients achieve their oral health goals in comfort.
Is Sedation Dentistry Right For You?
You might consider sedation dentistry if you have found that you avoid dental visits due to anxiety, or even if you are normally fine seeing the dentist but merely have a complicated dental procedure coming up that is giving you anxiety. In many cases, patients with a lifetime of dental fear attribute their fear to:
- Fear of pain or strong gag reflex
- Negative past experiences
- Feeling out of control
- Discomfort with sounds and smells of the dental office
- Not wanting to feel numb
Sedation dentistry may be appropriate for people with a low pain threshold or who aren’t able to sit still in a dentist chair, such as individuals with special needs. You and your dentist also may decide to utilize sedation dentistry if you have a large amount of dental work completed, even if you don’t always suffer from dental fear.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” is an effective sedative gas that is mixed with oxygen and administered through a mask that fits over your nose. Nitrous Oxide will not put you to sleep and you will still be able to carry on a conversation with your dentist. However, it will help you feel more calm and comfortable. The effects of nitrous oxide will wear off soon after the mask is removed, and you should be able to drive yourself home after the procedure. AH Smiles typically uses this method of sedation unless our dentist or the patient decides otherwise.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation relaxes you and limits what discomfort you can feel. You will be aware of your surroundings and will be able to carry on a conversation, but you’ll feel less responsive to what is happening. You may also feel drowsy and might feel like taking a nap during the procedure.
You will need a friend or family member to bring you to and take you home from your procedure if you have taken oral sedation.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is administered through the vein, so it will start working more quickly. This method of sedation allows the dentist to continually adjust the level so that you can and it allows you to be almost or completely “out” during your procedure if needed.
Sedation Dentistry in Arlington Heights, IL
If you are searching for a dentist office that offers judgement-free, sedation dentistry in the Arlington Heights, IL area, schedule an appointment today. AH Smiles is accepting new patients from the Chicago metropolitan area. Whether you need a family dentist or you suffer from complex dental issues, Dr. Brent Engelberg and Dr. Jennifer Mullarkey are here to help you.