Dental anxiety is more common than you might think. As many as one in every five Americans don’t go to the dentist because of anxiety or even fear, according to some studies. For many of them, the idea of dental treatment, and the pain they associate with it, is more than they can bear. At Cascade Endodontics in Orem, we offer sedation dentistry that can get most people through their appointments, in spite of their anxiety.
We’ve got three types of sedation for our patients: nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation.
- Nitrous oxide. This is known, famously, as laughing gas. We don’t know whether it will make you laugh. We do know that it is one of the most effective ways of getting someone through a procedure if they have anxiety.
Nitrous has been used for sedation purposes in dentistry for more than one hundred years, and with great success. It won’t make you sleep, and it isn’t meant to. You wear a mask over your nose and mouth and breathe normally. You should feel the effects quickly: a light-headed, euphoric sensation. There may be some tingling in your arms and legs, too.
Above all, you will feel calm and comfortable. When your procedure is over the mask comes off, and the nitrous oxide wears off quickly. Unlike other types of sedation, you will be able to drive yourself home.
- Oral conscious sedation.
This involves taking a sedative, which we prescribe, before you arrive for your appointment. This is a stronger form of sedation than nitrous oxide, but it won’t make you sleep. You are likely to slur your words. But you’ll be very relaxed, and able to get through your procedure with no difficulty.
- IV sedation
As the name says, this is administered intravenously by an anesthesiologist in our office. It’s sometimes called “sleep” dentistry, but you will remain conscious from start to finish. Most patients are even able to answer any questions we put to them. It has an amnesic effect, so you may not remember much when it’s all over.
Sedation dentistry from Cascade Endodontics in Orem may be just what you need. Call our office to find out more or set up an appointment. Services include root canals and toothache relief. Call today!
Jon Jenson DDS
Cascade Endodontics
1375 E 800 N Ste 203
Orem, UT 84097
801-404-5810