Sedation Dentistry near Lehighton, Tamaqua PA

Dental Treatment

How Can I Get Dental Treatment Without Pain And Anxiety?

We understand that undergoing a dental procedure is not always a pleasant experience for everyone. Thanks to recent advancements in the medical field, there are options that make receiving dental treatment much more comfortable. Sedation options are an effective way to receive the dental care you need without any stress or anxiety. All it takes is a simple conversation with your dentist to find out if sedation dentistry is the right choice for you.

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Did You Know…

Patients who have an overactive gag reflex, a fear of needles or a low-pain threshold can be treated and soothed with sedation.

What Can I Expect At A Sedation Consultation?

Before any treatment, your dentist will discuss the complete treatment plan with you and decide if sedation is the right choice for the procedure. For more invasive or lengthy dental procedures, specific types of sedation may be recommended or necessary. Other options are best suited for relieving tension and anxiety.

Health Evaluation

Next, your dentist will discuss your current health and past health history to make sure sedation is an appropriate option for you. Some health issues may affect your ability to be sedated with your preferred methods, such as past drug addiction or the use of certain prescription medications.

Needs & Concerns

An honest discussion with your dentist about your specific needs will help us which sedation option works best for you. How deeply do you wish to be sedated? What is making you anxious about your procedure? Do you have a low pain threshold? Your dentist may ask a few questions in order to select the appropriate sedation method.

Recommendations & Options

After collecting this information, your dentist will discuss all available sedation options with you. With the dentist’s recommendation and your thoughts, our dental team can help you choose the right sedation option for your procedure.

Laughing Gas or Minimally Inhaled Sedation

If you are anxious about your next dental procedure or appointment but want to avoid deep sedation, this method of sedation is an ideal option. To begin, your dentist will pump a mixture of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oxygen through a nose mask, and you’ll start to breathe through this nose mask normally. While you may feel unaware of your surroundings, you will remain awake. The main advantage of laughing gas is that it has minimal side effects, which wear off within a few minutes once the nose mask is removed. Right after the procedure, you can drive yourself alone and get back to your daily routine without any major side effects.

Oral Conscious Sedation

In this method, your dentist will give you a strong pill or liquid sedative about 30-60 minutes before your procedure. As the sedative starts to work, you’ll feel tired and groggy, and you may even fall asleep during your treatment.

Oral-conscious sedative drugs can trigger “anterograde amnesia,” a very common occurrence that can cause you to forget everything about your procedure.

Compared to nitrous oxide sedation, oral-conscious sedative medicines have more noticeable and longer side effects. You will most likely feel groggy well after your treatment, so you can not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 4-6 hours. Be sure to come with someone who can drive you to and from our office if you choose oral conscious sedation.

IV Sedation

In IV sedation, the same oral-conscious medicines are used, but it is injected directly into your bloodstream via an IV. This option will take effect almost immediately once it’s injected into your bloodstream. You will fall asleep during your treatment with IV sedation. While you may not remember your procedure, you can still be woken up and respond to the operator’s commands.

Once your dental procedure is complete, you may feel uncomfortable for 4-6 hours or longer. You cant drive yourself home after the procedure, so you will need someone who can drive you to and from our office on the day of your appointment.

General Anesthesia

This is one of the strongest forms of sedation is general anaesthesia which requires the use of a ventilator to help you breathe, and it will render you completely unconscious — you will not feel anything or remember anything about your procedure.

General anaesthesia is usually reserved for the most invasive dental surgeries, such as jaw surgery. Other sedation options can be used for patients who have low pain threshold levels and need routine dental treatments, such as tooth extractions, dental crowns, and more.

Did You Know…

Have Questions About Sedation Options? Find Answers Here.

Around 40% of Americans suffer from dental anxiety

What Is Sedation Used For In Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is used to soothe your dental anxiety and alleviate pain during surgical procedures. Many patients avoid the dental care they need because of dental anxiety. If coming to the dentist makes you feel anxious or nervous, sedation can help you feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed during your treatment.

Sedation also helps mitigate pain and discomfort during more invasive and lengthy procedures, such as multiple teeth extractions, oral surgeries and dental implant placement.

Am I A Good Candidate For Sedation Dentistry?

Most patients are good candidates for sedation dentistry, but it is essential to share your current health condition and past medical history with your dentist to make sure sedation is appropriate for you. If you are taking medicine that may interfere with the sedation procedure or have a history of drug abuse, sedation dentistry may not be a suitable option. Reach out to our dental team to learn more about sedation dentistry, and to get the conversation started.

What Does Sedation Dentistry Feel Like?

Each method of sedation has different advantages and drawbacks, so it depends on which option you choose. Laughing gas keeps you fully conscious and you may aware of your
surroundings.

Oral conscious sedation and IV sedation are stronger from of sedation which will most likely cause you to fall asleep and forget most of your procedure. However, you will not be completely unconscious, and you can still be woken and respond to commands.

The deepest method of sedation is general anesthesia. You will be completely unconscious and will not feel or remember anything from your procedure.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Yes. Qualified professionals provide sedation dentistry at our office and are specially trained to administer all available options. While oral conscious sedation and IV sedation have more side effects compared to laughing gas, they are still very safe. As long as you are a good candidate, sedation medicines will have no serious risks to your health or well-being.

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