Afraid of the dentist? You aren’t alone. In fact more than one source lists fear of the dentist also called odontophobia as one of the top ten most common phobias. Many estimate that up to 75% of the adults in the U.S. have at least some fear of the dentist. Up to 10% of those people actually consider their fear to be an outright phobia. However, there is hope. Many people have overcome their fear by simply finding a caring and compassionate dentist that specializes in dental sedation.
There are many offices that offer Sedation Dentistry Scottsdale AZ. Once you have found a dentist that has assured you that he or she will in fact honor your decision to incorporate dental sedation during your visit, you will need to decide on the level of sedation that you will require to make your visit tolerable. The three most common choices of sedation are inhalation sedation, oral sedation, and IV sedation.
What to expect if you are considering inhalation sedation otherwise known as “laughing gas” or nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is administered through a mask or nose piece. You breathe in the nitrous oxide and within minutes you will begin to feel calm and relaxed. Typically this option is used as a way to relax patients right before a procedure begins.
If you have decided on oral sedation you will be prescribed a pill to swallow. These pills are commonly known as Xanax, Ativan, Valium or Halcion. Your dentist will most likely instruct you to take the sedative about an hour before you arrive at the office for your procedure. When using an oral sedative it is likely that you won’t remember much, if anything of your procedure. However, each individual experiences different levels of sedation due to dosage and tolerance levels of the individual.
Patients that opt for IV sedation are usually undergoing more intense procedures. Cosmetic Dentistry, implants, and extractions may be just a few of the procedures that may cause you to choose IV sedation. By opting for IV sedation your doctor is able to maintain and adjust your dosages more accurately. This ensures that you are as comfortable as possible at all times.
Pain and even fear of pain at the dentist is becoming a thing of the past thanks to more and more compassionate dentists that are choosing to offer sedation dentistry to their patients.
