Have you ever felt nervous or fearful about visiting the dentist? Has it kept you from getting the dental care or treatment you need? If so, you’re not alone! Many people feel this way, and that’s why our West Augusta Dental Associates team aims to alleviate stress and anxiety about dental appointments or treatment.Sedation Dentistry at West Augusta Dental Associates
We offer two levels of sedation at West Augusta Dental Associates—nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation.
Calming Relaxation with Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, offers a lower level of relaxation. It combines breathable oxygen with nitrous oxide, which you’ll receive through an inhalation mask you wear during treatment.
This type of sedation works well during most procedures and doesn’t leave you with lingering side effects. After your dental appointment, you can drive home and return to normal activities.
Oral Conscious Sedation for More Extensive Treatment Plans
If you need a deeper level of sedation to get through your visits, oral sedation may be ideal for you. Delivered through medication taken an hour before your treatment procedure, oral sedation provides deep relaxation to the point where you might even feel like you’re sleeping, yet you’re still conscious and responsive.
This level of sedation and the nature of the medication requires that you have transportation arranged to and from your appointment, and you should not return to work afterward. The medication has an amnesic effect, so you likely will have little to no memory of your treatment procedure.
Oral sedation may be best for patients with these considerations:
- Severe dental fear, anxiety, or phobia
- Bad gag reflex
- Difficulties sitting for long periods
- Special physical, mental, or behavioral needs
- An extensive treatment plan that they’d like to finish during one appointment
