You're not alone. Nearly 40 million Americans avoid the dentist because of dental fears and anxiety. Luckily, dental sedation in California can help.
Did you know that more than 60 percent of men and women suffer from moderate to extreme dental fears? The possibility of experiencing pain is a significant factor in preventing many Southern California residents from visiting the dentist. As a result, easier-to-treat dental cavities and toothaches become worse, which eventually costs the patient more time and money. In response, Cunning Dental Group's Dr. Ronald Cunning has been performing state-of-the-art Sedation Dentistry in California since 1968 to help patients cope with their dental anxiety or phobia. If you're scared of going to the dentist—don't be! Dental sedation is highly effective and will make your entire experience at a dental office more comfortable.
But first, what is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry or dental sedation is a procedure that uses medication to help patients relax while undergoing dental treatments. It is also referred to as "sleep dentistry," although the term is not entirely accurate. The patients are drowsy but conscious, with the exception of those who are under general anesthesia.
Depending on a patient's treatment needs and age, here are the main types of dental sedation techniques we can perform here at Cunning Dental:
Inhaled sedation. This process requires introducing a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, in the patient's respiratory system through a mask over the nose. Dental patients inhale this gas under controlled conditions to feel relaxed and comfortable while the dental procedure is taking place. Dentists usually apply inhaled sedation at a low level, which allows patients to drive themselves home after the dental procedure.
Oral sedation. For this particular type of sedation, dentists instruct their patients to take a pill an hour in advance of their appointment. The medications typically prescribed for oral sedation include Halcion® or Valium®. Dentists can recommend decreasing or increasing the dosage to manage the intensity of sedation effects. This technique is one of the easiest to administer, although it requires patients to prepare in advance and they cannot drive before and after treatment.
Intravenous sedation. For more complex dental procedures such as root canal therapy or wisdom tooth extraction, patients can opt to have a sedative drug injected into their vein using intravenous (IV) sedation technique. IV sedation has an immediate effect on the patient's consciousness level, which a dentist can adjust when there is a need. If you are looking for a seasoned dentist who can perform this technique safely, choose Dr. Cunning. He is one of the few dentists in California licensed to practice IV sedation.
General anesthesia. In some cases, a dental specialist may prefer this method over other sedation techniques. When a patient is under general anesthesia, he or she goes into a deep sleep and is not able to hear or feel anything. Here at Cunning Dental, such sedation procedures are administered under the careful observation of our qualified oral surgeon and anesthesiologist to ensure the safety of our patients.
What are the benefits of dental sedation?
A growing number of patients are experiencing total relaxation in the dentist’s chair due to the following advantages of sedation dentistry in Irvine, Montclair and San Diego, CA:
1. Anxiety relief
Having dental fears make it difficult for a patient to control their anxiety and rapid movements while in the chair. Sleep dentistry helps such patients calm down and relax while the procedure is in progress, making the trip to the dentist a successful one.
2. Reduced gag reflexes
Extreme nervousness during a dental procedure can cause patients to experience overactive gag reflexes. In such situations, a patient can begin choking or sputtering. Sedation techniques such as the inhalation of nitrogen oxide using a Safe Sedate inhalation mask can help a nervous patient relax and forget about the psychological pressures of being in a dental chair.
3. Pain relief
The brain cannot process or register pain while under the influence of strong sedatives and anesthetics. Everyone wants pain-free dental care, which explains the rising demand for dental sedation in Southern California.
4. Prevents a traumatic dental experience
Amnesia is an unfortunate outcome in most situations, but in sedation dentistry, it is quite desirable. The anxieties and phobias people have of the dentist often stem from an unpleasant experience in childhood, and these negative emotions can grow stronger with each additional trip to the dentist's office. The latter is especially true if the patient experiences any pain or discomfort during a visit. However, with sleep dentistry, there can be no additional build-up of fears since, as mentioned, the mind cannot create new memories while under powerful sedatives and anesthetics. Sedation dentistry helps minimize or even eliminate the fear that patients will have on following dental visits.
5. Dentists can perform multiple procedures in one appointment
Dental sedation reduces the need for multiple visits in order to accomplish a single procedure. Since patients can relax and remain comfortable, dentists are able to cover more ground in a shorter amount of time. Patients can sometimes get months or years of work done in one visit without feeling anything. Not only is this excellent news for the dentist, but also for the patient. The dentist can get a patient out of the chair and on the road to recovery without scheduling a second or third appointment.
Are you ready to conquer your dental fears?
The dentist is a common phobia for adults and children alike. Thankfully, effective and painless dentistry is possible through the use of sedation. You can finally stop avoiding the dentist like the plague because sedation dentistry will make a remarkable difference in your oral health, mindset towards dentistry, and overall well-being. Picture this: you are fast asleep in a dental chair, dreaming of a brand new smile, calm and comfortable as can be. You wake up feeling refreshed and your dream becomes a beautiful reality. Sedation dentistry is the game changer you have long been waiting for, and it works just like that.
To schedule an appointment with Cunning Dental Group, give us a call at (855) 328-6646 or complete our online contact form. Dr. Cunning has been using sedation dentistry in his practice for over 50 years and for many procedures, so there is no reason to feel nervous. You will be in good hands.
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