If you avoid preventive or restorative dental care because you’re anxious about receiving dental services, you’re not alone. About 22% of adults don’t get dental treatment because of fear.
While it’s common to feel uncomfortable about someone poking around in your mouth with metal instruments, the consequences of ignoring necessary dental services can be more serious. You risk permanent damage to your teeth, gums, and overall oral health.
Sedation dentistry is one way to feel confident and comfortable enough to undergo dental treatment. This safe and medically supervised procedure involves the use of medications to help you remain calm and relaxed.
You get optimal results from sedation dentistry when you visit an experienced dental professional. In New York, our sedation dentistry experts at Union Square Dental in Manhattan’s Flatiron District provide exceptional dental services with options to address your concerns and comfort.
Our empathetic team has the expertise necessary to help you feel comfortable and safe while you’re in our care.
We offer two options for sedation dentistry: local anesthesia and nitrous oxide. Find out how sedation dentistry can make it possible for you to get the dental services you require.
Local anesthesia allows you to undergo recommended dental treatment while you’re awake in a normal state of consciousness but free of pain. It enables you to retain your ability to communicate while you’re protected by the numbing effects of an anesthetic drug.
We administer local anesthesia via an injection into the area of your mouth that we’re treating. To reduce the discomfort of the injection, we can apply a topical anesthetic to your gums or oral tissue just before inserting the needle.
Most of our patients feel the effects of local anesthesia within about 10 minutes of an injection. The effect typically lasts up to a few hours, but since the anesthetic doesn’t affect your consciousness, you likely can drive home safely after your procedure ends.
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a gaseous sedative agent mixed with oxygen. The drug helps you feel relaxed and peaceful, though you’re still capable of answering questions and making requests during your procedure.
We deliver nitrous oxide through a small mask that sits over your nose and remains in place during your treatment. It typically takes effect within a few minutes.
You can expect to feel calm and comfortable while inhaling nitrous oxide, though you may also feel light-headed or experience a slight tingling sensation in your arms and legs.
The physical effects of nitrous oxide quickly fade when your mask is removed. You’ll likely feel normal and alert within a few minutes. Most of our patients who use nitrous oxide can safely drive themselves home after their procedure.
Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way to reduce dental anxiety. It also provides these benefits:
Patients of all ages who are in good health are typically good candidates for sedation dentistry. Before your procedure, we review your current conditions, medical history, and prescriptions to confirm that you can safely tolerate the planned treatment.
Certain conditions, like obesity or obstructive sleep apnea, can increase your risk of complications from sedation dentistry. We may advise you to avoid sedation dentistry if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Find out more about sedation dentistry and how it can help you feel more comfortable about getting necessary dental treatments. Call our office today to book an appointment.
