Help – I Have Dental Anxiety!
For many people, the mere thought of stepping into a dentist’s office can evoke fear or anxiety, often interfering with getting the needed dental care. Santa Teresa Dental is pleased to offer sedation dentistry options to help our valued patients relax in the dentist’s chair. You can count on Dr. Huang and our dedicated team for an experience that exceeds your expectations!
Sedation Dentistry – An Overview
Sedation dentistry, sometimes known as sleep dentistry, involves administering sedative medication to help our patients relax during treatment. At Santa Teresa Dental, we offer different levels and types of sedation, including nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and general anesthesia.
Nitrous Oxide or Laughing Gas: This light form of sedation involves breathing a mixture of nitrous oxide gas and oxygen through a mask. That evokes a euphoric feeling that spreads through the body. Dr. Huang can increase or decrease the level of sedation based on your needs.
Aside from helping our patients relax, nitrous oxide has pain-killing properties that sometimes minimize the need for local anesthetics. Once your procedure is over and we remove the mask, the effects of the sedative will wear off, allowing you to drive home safely and resume your day without interruption.
Oral Conscious Sedation: Oral conscious sedation or OCS involves administering oral medication to help you relax during dental treatment. Dr. Huang is ACLS-certified (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) and is licensed by the state of California to administer adult OCS. He has helped many patients with dental anxiety get the dental care they require while feeling comfortable and relaxed.
Oral sedation is an excellent option for most patients with dental phobia. The level of sedation will depend on the dosage of medication you receive. You will feel incredibly relaxed and may drift off into a light sleep, but you will be conscious and responsive to directions. Most patients remember little, if any, of their treatment. The effects of sedation take some time to wear off, so you will need a trusted adult to accompany you and drive you home after treatment.
General Anesthesia: Santa Teresa Dental has partnered with highly experienced board-certified Anesthesiologists to administer general anesthesia to adults and children. They use the highest quality equipment and state-of-the-art monitoring to ensure our valued patients are safe and comfortable before, during, and after treatment.
General anesthesia puts our patients into a deep state of sleep. It is beneficial to patients with high levels of dental anxiety, those requiring extensive dental treatments, and patients with special healthcare needs. You will need an adult to accompany you and drive you home after treatment, and you will need to rest the remainder of the day as the effects of the anesthesia wear off.
What Are the Benefits of Sedation Dentistry?
Fear of the dentist, although unfounded, can interfere with getting the needed dental care at the expense of a patient’s oral health. Sedation dentistry creates a calm and relaxed state of mind, which helps patients overcome their apprehensions. It also allows for more treatments to be completed in fewer appointments, reducing the time spent in the dental chair.
Sedation dentistry is indicated for patients with a deep-rooted fear of the dentist. It benefits patients needing complex or lengthy treatments, those with low pain tolerance or heightened sensitivity, patients with a strong gag reflex, and young children or patients with special healthcare needs who cannot sit still for long.
Sedation dentistry contributes to a patient’s oral health by facilitating essential dental procedures that may be otherwise postponed due to fear and anxiety. It also helps create more positive dental experiences, lessening the fear of future dental care.
Sedation Dentistry Near Me
Visit Santa Teresa Dental in Morgan Hill, CA, to learn more about our sedation dentistry options for anxiety-free dental care. Dr. Huang and our dedicated team are committed to ensuring our valued patients are comfortable and free of stress while receiving the outstanding dental care they deserve. Call us at 408-782-6568 to schedule your appointment, or request one online today!