How to Relax with Dental Sedation

For most patients, the greatest challenge to receiving the dental care they need is finding time in their schedules to make an appointment. For many, however, the greater challenge is finding a way to relax enough to not fear visiting the dentist. Dental phobia affects millions of patients across the country, and it often prevents them from seeking the routine care they need to preserve their good oral health. Fortunately, fearful patients can relax with the right level of dental sedation, which relieves anxiety to make visiting the dentist a much less stressful experience.

Choosing the Most Appropriate Sedative
Patients who experience dental phobia or heightened anxiety do so to varying degrees. To some, the experience may be more stressful than usual, but bearable to some degree. To others, it may be debilitating enough to stop them from receiving even routine preventive care. Addressing each patient’s anxiety therefore requires a highly personalized sedation option, such as nitrous oxide or oral sedation. For instance, nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is administered through a mask and can be adjusted as needed during your procedure. Oral sedation comes in the form of a pill or liquid, and the dosage can be modified to meet your specific needs.

Sedation for Complex Procedures
While sedation is often most beneficial for helping patients overcome dental fear, it is also an important part of many complex restorative procedures. For example, if you need wisdom tooth extraction or dental implant placement, then dental sedation can allow you to remain comfortable and still in the chair longer. This allows your dentist to perform more of your procedure at a time and reducing the number of visits you have to schedule to complete your treatment.

Ask Us if Sedation Is Right for You
The right level of sedation can help a variety of patients enjoy a more comfortable and relaxed experience while visiting the dentist. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Oxnard Dentistry in Oxnard, CA, today at (805) 604-9999. We also proudly serve patients from in and around Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Moore Park, and all surrounding communities.