Sedation Dentistry: A Game-Changer for Patients with Severe Dental Anxiety

If you feel anxious when your dentist appointment pops up on the calendar, you’re in good company. Around 36% of people in the United States have some form of fear about dental treatment, with 12% dealing with a more severe (or even extreme) fear.

Whether your fear centers on pain, needles, noise, someone touching your mouth, a gag reflex, a past bad experience with a dentist, or another factor, this kind of anxiety is real. At Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons in Danbury, Ridgefield, and Southbury, Connecticut, we practice sedation dentistry — we know it’s a game-changer for patients with severe dental anxiety.

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry, which we also call office-based anesthesia, is designed to help you feel calm and comfortable as you undergo dental treatment. Depending on your procedure and your level of anxiety, we’ll give you medicine before the treatment starts that will ease your mind and your body. 

We’ll schedule an initial consultation where we’ll discuss your health history, your needed treatment, your anxiety levels, and any medications or supplements you’re currently taking. Based on this information, we’ll make a recommendation on the type of sedation to use.

How does it work?

We generally use two forms of sedation dentistry in our practice:

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide (often called laughing gas) is a mild and temporary form of sedation. You’ll inhale it through a mask along with oxygen. You’ll feel the effects right away: It slows down your nervous system, reduces your anxiety, and gives you a sense of calm and even euphoria. 

The effects wear off as soon as you stop inhaling the gas, making it the only form of sedation dentistry where it’s safe to drive yourself home.

IV sedation

As the name implies, IV sedation involves injecting sedation medication directly into your bloodstream via an intravenous needle. This type of sedation is also called twilight sleep because you may remain in a dreamy, semi-awake state throughout your procedure. You may also fall completely asleep and wake with no memory of the treatment.

This is the deepest form of sedation we offer; we’ll monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen while you’re sedated, and adjust the medication as necessary. The effects of IV sedation will take longer to wear off, so you’ll need to arrange for someone to give you a ride home when you’re finished at our office.

If you’re in need of dental surgery, including implant surgery, tooth replacements, wisdom teeth extractions, and more, our expert and highly-trained team at Associated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons is happy to help.

Call our most convenient location for you to schedule an appointment, or book your own time with our easy online scheduler.