Sedation Dentistry – Rochester, MN
Overcoming Your
Dental Fears
No matter your age, there’s no shame in being afraid of the dentist or anxious about getting dental care in general. Dental anxieties and phobias affect a lot of people, and many find that they actively prevent them from getting care even when it’s seriously needed. In additional to his gentle chairside manner, Dr. Brong can soothe your dental worries with one of two types of sedation dentistry in our Rochester, MN dental office. Call today to discuss your options and figure out which might be right for you.
Why Choose Zumbro Family Dental for Sedation Dentistry?
- Nitrous Oxide for Mild Anxieties
- Oral Conscious Sedation for Advanced Fears
- Non-Judgmental Dental Environment
Oral Conscious Dental Sedation
Oral conscious sedation can help make you feel calm and comfortable prior to your dental procedure. With this treatment, all you need to do is take a pill. Soon, you’ll experience full body relaxation without falling asleep. Though sleep is possible, most patients only feel extremely drowsy, and as a result it is important to arrange for a ride to and from your dental appointment prior to your arrival.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation has the benefits of many other types of sedation dentistry, but without the need for needles or a face mask. It is ideal for adults who are nervous, anxious, fearful, or who have a strong gag reflex or any other factors that make dental treatment uncomfortable.
Typically, Dr. Brong will prescribe one small pill (typically Valium, Ativan, or Halcion) that you will pick up prior to your visit and take once you arrive at your appointment. The effects of these sedatives are long-lasting, and usually begin working within 15 minutes, depending on the drug used.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
The effects of oral conscious sedation will linger throughout your entire appointment, so it’s important that you have a trusted friend or family member present to drop you off at your visit and pick you up to bring you home.
Once these effects kick in, you will feel deeply relaxed and calm. You may not even be able to remember your appointment after it wears off, which can be an added benefit for some patients.
Your dental team will closely monitor you throughout your entire procedure to always ensure your safety.
You will still be conscious, allowing you to respond to instructions, all the while remaining in a relaxed state.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is a great option for patients who fit the following criteria:
- Suffer from dental fear, anxiety, or nervousness.
- Regularly cancel or reschedule dental appointments due to the fear of receiving bad news.
- Have a sensitive gag reflex.
- Are undergoing multiple treatments at once, or one longer treatment in one appointment.
- Have difficulty getting numb with local anesthesia.
- Have had bad dental experiences in the past.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide sedation is a tried-and-true calming solution that is suitable for patients of all ages. If you’re wondering why you’ve never heard of it before, it’s likely because you’ve heard it by another name: laughing gas. If you are interested in learning more about it, and if you’re a candidate, don’t hesitate to call our Rochester dental team or read on!
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide is usually preferred for soothing such anxieties for one major reason: the effects don’t linger as long as other options. However, even if you don’t struggle with dental-related anxiety, you may benefit from adding this calming solution to your treatment plan. For example, if you have a fear of needles, struggle with a sensitive gag reflex, or experience head/neck/jaw pain in the treatment chair, this may be the solution you’ve been looking for! It will keep you relaxed during your entire visit, creating a more positive experience overall.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide is administered once you arrive at our office and get comfortably settled into the treatment chair. We’ll place a nasal mask over your nose, switch on the nitrous oxide, and ask you to breathe in through your nose. After a few minutes, you’ll feel a wave of relaxation wash over you, melting away any anxiety, stress, or nerves in the process.
Since nitrous oxide doesn’t put you to sleep, you can easily ask questions and respond to cues during your time in the treatment chair. We can even adjust the level of nitrous throughout your visit, ensuring you stay completely at ease.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
After we’re done providing the necessary care, we’ll let you know and switch off the nitrous oxide. Since the effects wear off quickly, you’ll only need a few minutes to fully recover. As a result, you don’t have to worry about interrupting the rest of your day or having someone else drive you home.
Important note: We will give you aftercare instructions pertaining to the treatment you received. For example, if we restored a badly damaged tooth with a dental crown, we will ask you to wait until the numbing agent has worn off before you eat anything, and that you rinse your mouth periodically with warm saltwater.
