Safe Dental Sedation Methods With Our East Lansing Dentist
It’s normal for patients to feel nervous going to the dentist, but some patients may find it nearly impossible. Dental anxiety and phobia can prevent patients from seeking necessary dental care, which results in worsened symptoms and further oral health complications.
At the dental practice of Dr. Caroline Kim, we’re proud to offer sedation dentistry options to patients in Okemos, Meridian, and Mason, MI. With dental sedation, you’ll be able to enjoy a stress-free dental appointment that you may not remember afterward. Read on to learn more about sedation dentistry and how you may benefit.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry can help patients with dental anxiety receive the necessary dental treatments. Whether you’re nervous about dental tools or have had negative past experiences at the dentist’s office, dental sedation with our dentist in East Lansing can help. You’ll be in good hands at the dental practice of Dr. Kim.
When Is Sedation Dentistry Necessary?
Dental sedation is an optional addition to your procedure that can promote feelings of calm. Some reasons you may opt for dental sedation include:
- Difficulty getting numb with local anesthesia alone
- Dental anxiety or phobia
- Severe gag reflex
- Tooth sensitivity
- Complex or long procedures
Am I a Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
Dental sedation is a great way to make patients feel more at ease in the dentist’s chair. However, it may not be ideal for everyone. You may be ineligible for sedation dentistry if you have:
- Thyroid disorders
- Conflicting medications
- Liver or kidney diseases
- Diabetes
- Respiratory problems
Speak with our East Lansing dentist during your initial consultation to learn if you qualify for dental sedation. We’ll work with you to ensure your procedure is stress-free so you can receive the dental care you need.
Our Sedation Dentistry Methods
Intravenous (IV) sedation is administered through a needle, allowing Dr. Kim to control the dosage as she works. IV sedation is a safe sedation method that puts patients in a state of total relaxation. Best of all, patients may not have a memory of the procedure afterward, which can benefit patients struggling with dental anxiety.
Oral sedation is safe and comfortable sedation that doesn’t require any administration at the dental office. Dr. Kim will prescribe a relaxant you’ll take before your visit, allowing you to feel calm and relaxed when you arrive. Patients with anxiety surrounding dental tools may benefit from this sedation option.
However, because oral conscious sedation produces long-lasting effects, we recommend arranging a ride home following your appointment.
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide sedation is one of the safest sedation dentistry methods. Nitrous oxide is a convenient sedation method suitable for patients of all ages that works quickly to promote a feeling of deep relaxation. This dental sedative is through a simple face mask before your procedure.
Best of all, its effects are easily reversible. By administering oxygen after your procedure, we can reverse the effects of nitrous oxide so you can go about your day as usual. You’ll also be able to drive yourself home with no problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
A common misconception about sedation dentistry is that it will cause patients to fall asleep during their appointments, but this isn’t the case. Patients will instead enter a state known as “twilight sleep,” in which they’ll be in a state of deep relaxation but still conscious enough to respond to verbal cues.
Some patients may not even remember the events of their procedure when the sedative subsides, which can be beneficial to those with dental anxiety.
The duration of your sedation’s effect depends on the typer you received. For example, nitrous oxide is easily reversible, while oral and IV sedation requires time to subside. We encourage you to arrange a ride home after receiving one of the two latter sedatives.
Generally, sedation dentistry methods take 24 hours to leave your system and may lead to side effects such as:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Difficulty remembering the procedure
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
Using dental sedation and local anesthesia, you won’t feel any pain or anxiety during your dental visit. Local anesthesia helps numb the targeted areas, and sedation dentistry methods help alleviate any feelings of stress or worry. A team member will monitor you throughout your appointment to ensure everything is working.
It’s normal to experience mild pain once the numbness subsides, though this depends on the procedure. Dr. Kim recommends taking over-the-counter pain medications to relieve any discomfort in the meantime.
Relax During Your Dental Appointment With Sedation Dentistry
Don’t let dental anxiety prevent you from receiving necessary dental care. Our dentist in East Lansing is proud to offer various dental sedation options for patients struggling with dental phobias. We invite you to experience a relaxed and stress-free appointment with sedation dentistry.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kim by contacting our East Lansing office today at (517) 332-8665. You can also fill out our convenient contact form to request an appointment online.