Anxiety-Free Dentistry: Comfort and Sedation Options at Schaefer Dental Group in Lansing, Michigan
Modern dentistry offers so many ways to make your mouth healthier and your smile more beautiful. Yet, many people avoid necessary treatment because of a long-standing fear of dental procedures. If you are one of these people, rest assured that it’s possible to have an experience that’s free of anxiety and pain. This can be accomplished by blocking your sensations of pain with local anesthetics or by giving you medication that can help you relax. Sometimes both are needed to ensure maximum comfort.
When you are afraid of dental treatment, your guard goes up and your pain threshold goes down; anticipating that something will hurt makes you hypersensitive to every sensation. If this describes your experience in the dental chair, then you might benefit from sedatives that can be given during your visit to make that anxiety melt away. Schaefer Dental Group is committed to providing comfortable, anxiety-free care for every patient.
Before any particular sedative is recommended by your dentist in Lansing, Michigan, you will be asked to provide your complete health history, including any medications you are currently taking. It is also important to know if you smoke or drink. On the day of your treatment, you may need to have someone drive you to and from your appointment, as certain medications take time to wear off.
Ways to Relieve Anxiety in the Dental Office
There are several safe and effective methods to ensure you are relaxed and comfortable during your visit to Schaefer Dental Group:
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Oral Sedation: This is a popular option because it does not require the use of needles. Oral sedatives are either swallowed in pill form or dissolved under the tongue. They work quickly to make your experience as comfortable and relaxing as possible. These medications have long safety records, and several have “amnesic” properties, meaning you will remember little or nothing, even though you remain conscious throughout the treatment. Commonly prescribed medications include Valium®, Halcion®, Ativan®, and others.
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Inhalation Conscious Sedation (Nitrous Oxide): Nitrous oxide (sometimes called “laughing gas”) is a sedative you inhale through a nasal hood placed over your nose. It is a very good anti-anxiety medication that provides a light-headed or even euphoric feeling. The effect is quick to wear off, meaning there is no “hangover” effect, and you can usually drive yourself home after the procedure. This is considered a very safe sedative option.
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IV Conscious Sedation: Sedatives delivered directly into the bloodstream intravenously (into the vein) are more potent, and the amnesic effects may be more profound. The main advantage is that the drugs work immediately, and the level of sedation can be adjusted more quickly and easily throughout the procedure. As with all sedation (except nitrous oxide), you must be closely monitored with specialized equipment during IV sedation.
We are dedicated to helping every patient in Lansing achieve optimal oral health in a comfortable environment. Would you like to know more about which sedation option might be best for your next dental visit?