According to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS), about 30% of Americans are not getting the dental care they need because of fear and anxiety associated with the dentist. Because patients who are anxious tend to put off visiting the dentist until something hurts, the treatment required to fix the problem intensifies, which creates even more anxiety resulting in a vicious cycle.
At NELA Dental, we think it's time for this to change. We believe everyone deserves to have good oral health. If fear and anxiety have kept you from visiting the dentist, call or visit one of our three locations to find out which sedation method work best for you.
Sedation dentistry comes in a variety of forms. You've probably heard of nitrous oxide, which is sometimes referred to as "laughing gas." Nitrous oxide is a mild sedative that is breathed in and produces a slight euphoria while also reducing pain. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off as soon as the mask is removed.
Oral Sedation is another sedation method offered at NELA Dental. Oral Sedation is an anti-anxiety medication taken by mouth shortly before your scheduled appointment to help you feel calm and relaxed. The medication eases your anxiety, but you remain awake and alert throughout your visit. You do, however, need someone to drive you home afterward since the effects can linger.
In IV sedation dentistry, the medication is administered intravenously. We apply a topical anesthetic to make sure you don't feel a thing. You'll notice the calming effects of the medication very quickly, and we can adjust your dose as needed. While some of our patients do fall asleep, most stay awake during the procedure. You will not feel any discomfort, and your procedure will seem to fly by.
Our dentists will discuss which level of sedation dentistry is right for you based on your level of fear and anxiety. All forms of sedation dentistry will relax you and allow you to get the dental care you require without any worries of pain or discomfort.
NELA Dental is one of few offices in the area to offer IV Sedation. Intravenous Conscious Sedation (aka “IV sedation”) is anti-anxiety medication that is administered into the blood system during dental treatment.
IV means intravenous. By inserting a very fine needle, we administer anti-anxiety medication to make you feel completely relaxed. The IV medication used is not a painkiller, it's to treat anxiety. We will still need to numb you before we begin work. If you don't like the feeling of numbness or you have a fear of needles, we can wait until after your sedation medication begins. You won't even know it's happening.
Once you are completely relaxed, we will begin the procedure. We constantly monitor you while we administer sedation so you comfortably numb throughout your treatment. Therefore, there is no need for you to worry about waking up or feeling discomfort during treatment.
Once the procedure is finished, we will stop the IV and allow you time to recover from the sedation treatment. You may experience a sense of haziness following IV Sedation. It is best not to make any important decisions or perform tasks requiring coordination for the rest of the day. Make sure to allow your body adequate time to rest for a proper recovery.
IV sedation has specific benefits when compared to other forms of sedation dentistry, including:
NELA Dental may recommend IV sedation for different situations. If you have a very complex procedure, the dentist may recommend IV Sedation to keep you comfortable during the treatment. Sometimes it's easier to accomplish certain types of procedures like implant placement, extractions, or complicated root canals when patients receive IV sedation.
While we will always maintain numbness levels for procedures, IV Sedation offers added peace of mind that you will remain completely comfortable and relaxed.
You may also consider IV Sedation if you experience persistent dental anxiety and you need complex treatment or multiple procedures. When you utilize IV sedation, you will not have any awareness of your surroundings or have any memory of treatment. In many ways, it is the perfect treatment for people who have dental anxiety. IV Sedation offers a worry free option for treatment.
You may choose IV sedation if you need multiple procedures and wish to have it all completed in one appointment. Because you will have no sense of time while you have IV Sedation, you may find that having all of your dental work done in one day is more beneficial.
Some patients require IV Sedation for cleanings and other routine procedures, while others are fine with cleanings but fear procedures like root canals and fillings. No matter where you fall on this spectrum, NELA Dental will work with you to make sure that every appointment is comfortable and stress free.
The best way to decide if IV Sedation dentistry is right for you is to schedule an appointment with NELA Dental to determine the necessary treatment. We are happy to meet with you, discuss your concerns, and talk to you about your options.
Contact us today to find out if IV Sedation dentistry is right for you.
(318) 387-5732
2016 Tower Drive, Monroe, LA
(318) 368-9518
7699 Highway 2, Farmerville, LA
Vance Costello, D.D.S.
Daniel Raymond, D.D.S.
Ryan Rachal, D.D.S.
Mary Rachal, D.D.S.
Mallory Pruden, D.D.S.
