At Hunsaker Dental, we understand that some patients have had traumatic experiences in dentistry or have other anxieties about their treatment. Your dentists strive to make each patient comfortable and to meet your individual needs. For our patients with anxiety, sedation dentistry may be the answer.
NITROUS OXIDE
Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective sedative agent that will help you relax. It is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over your nose.
Nitrous oxide sometimes called “laughing gas” is one option we may offer to help make you more comfortable during certain procedures. It is not intended to put you to sleep. You will be able to hear and respond to any requests or directions we may have. Dr. Travis Hunsaker will ask you to breathe normally through your nose, and within a few short minutes, you should start to feel the effects of nitrous oxide. You may feel light-headed or tingling in your arms and legs. Some people say their arms and legs feel heavy. Ultimately, you should feel calm and comfortable. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off soon after the mask is removed. Talk to us about whether nitrous oxide would be a good option for you at your next appointment. For more information, visit www.mouthhealthy.org
ORAL (CONSCIOUS) SEDATION
Oral sedation dentistry allows us to create a safe and comfortable dental experience for patients who avoid the dentist out of fear.
With sedation, your dentist can work more effectively by helping you become as comfortable as possible using well-established and proven methods. There are a variety of sedation medications that are taken orally or “sublingually” (under the tongue).
INTRAVENOUS (IV) CONSCIOUS SEDATION
Intravenous conscious sedation (also known as IV Sedation) is a very popular method of sedation that we at Hunsaker Dental offer our patients. IV sedation is extremely popular among patients who have a strong dislike of dental work because it allows them to avoid anxiety and feel completely at ease while having work done.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
IV sedation puts you in a relaxed state of mind but does not put you to sleep. You will remain awake and be able to respond to any requests the doctor may have while you are sedated. Patients often experience partial or total amnesia for the full period of sedation. That is to say, you will probably not remember most of (or sometimes all of) the procedure. Meanwhile, the drugs we use will give you a very pleasant feeling of euphoria.
You will be aware of what is happening while it is happening. You will feel at ease with what is happening. You will be able to respond to our requests during the procedure—all this and you won’t remember a thing!
HOW DOES IT WORK
We do not use narcotics in our IV sedation. Instead, we use drugs from the benzodiazepine family. Benzodiazepines work by suppressing anxiety-inducing effects in the brain. They do nothing to prevent pain which is why we will always use a local anesthetic during any procedure which might be uncomfortable.
IS IT SAFE?
We at Hunsaker Dental only use sedation techniques that have been approved by the American Dental Association. To ensure your safety we will go over your medical history and request a list of medications that you are taking.
The application of the IV is the easiest part, just a small prick around the wrist and in no time the effects of the drug will kick in. You will feel calm and before you know it the procedure will be over. You may remember snippets of the procedure but probably not much. We require any patients undergoing sedation to have a driver that brings them and remains in the office for the duration of the procedure. The only type of sedation used that allows a patient to drive is N2O.
The end result is a worry-free visit to our office. We care about your comfort and want you to give us a call with any questions you may have regarding IV sedation.
With Sedation Dentistry, you no longer need to hide away your smile. You will be able to flash a perfect grin confidently again. Give us a call today at Salem: 503-877-1598 or Monmouth: 503-877-1590 to schedule your appointment!