Do you feel nervous, anxious, or even afraid when you have a dental appointment?
Do you find yourself rescheduling or even canceling dental visits out of fear of going to the dentist?
If you can answer to either question, then you likely suffer from dental anxiety.
You’re not alone. Nearly one in five Americans experience dental anxiety that ranges between moderate and severe.
At Exceptional Dentistry, we believe everyone should feel calm and comfortable receiving the dental care they need. That’s why we offer conscious sedation to our patients in Jeffersonville, Shepherdsville, and Louisville.
What is conscious sedation?
Conscious sedation helps you remain calm and comfortable during a dental appointment. You stay awake and can respond to what’s happening around you, but with diminished awareness of your surroundings and the treatment you are receiving.
Exceptional Dentistry offers two types of conscious sedation:
Nitrous oxide/laughing gas
Oral sedation entails swallowing a small pill about an hour before your appointment. Once you take the medication, you quickly begin to feel more relaxed. It takes full effect by the time of your appointment. You remain awake and feel relaxed but have a sense of not caring about what’s going on during your appointment.
Conscious oral sedation
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, has been used to calm nervous dental patients for decades. Though less potent than oral sedation, nitrous oxide relaxes any feelings of anxiety or fear you might be experiencing. At the same time, you remain aware of your surroundings and can carry on conversations and respond to instructions. To receive nitrous oxide, a small mask is placed over your nose as you breathe in a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen. You will begin feeling the effects within a few minutes of inhaling the gas.
Am I a Candidate for Oral Sedation?
Oral sedation dentistry is safe for most healthy individuals. However, to determine if oral sedation dentistry is right for you, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Exceptional Dentistry and sharing your complete health history, including any past medical complications, procedures, or medications you currently take.
Ideally, plan on having a family member or other trusted individual stay with you for the remainder of the day, as you will not be allowed to drive. Also, plan on taking it easy and resting for the rest of the day.
Who can Benefit from Conscious Sedation?
Oral sedation dentistry is safe for most healthy individuals. However, to determine if oral sedation dentistry is right for you, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Exceptional Dentistry and sharing your complete health history, including any past medical complications, procedures, or medications you currently take.
Problems remaining seated in the dental chair
Difficulty maintaining muscle control for an extended period
People who need to have several intensive dental procedures completed
Sedation Dentistry in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Shepherdsville and Louisville, Kentucky
Exceptional Dentistry offers sedation as part of our overall commitment to providing the highest level of comfortable care to our patients. Please schedule a consultation today to learn more about conscious sedation or our other services. Just call our office at (502) 423-7868.
