Tag: sedation dentistry

Many people are scared to go to the dentist and the idea of undergoing a dental procedure terrifies them. Sedation dentistry is for people who deal with dental anxiety. There are different types of sedation available at your Smile Glen Ellyn dentist. Our professional care team can help you choose the one that is right for you.

What is sedation dentistry?

Dental sedation includes techniques to help calm patients before they have a dental procedure. It can also be used to help patients be more comfortable during long dental procedures. Some people get anxious about getting numbing shots in their gums. Sedation methods are used to help ease that anxiety. Some sedatives do not put you to sleep for the procedure, they just have a calming effect. You may not even remember the procedure once it is over, even though you were awake.

Who is a good candidate for sedation at the dentist?

There are a few reasons you may be a good candidate for sedation while at the dentist’s office. Here are six reasons it might be a good option for you.

•  Dental visits make you anxious or extremely nervous.
•  Past traumatic dental experiences.
•  You are undergoing extensive dental work.
•  Your teeth are extremely sensitive.
•  You have a hard time being still.
•  Your gag reflex is stronger than normal.

Common Types of Sedation

There are three main ways a dentist may sedate you to calm anxiety during dental procedures.

• Nitrous Oxide. You may have heard this referred to as laughing gas. This method has a mild sedative effect. It helps you relax but does not put you to sleep. A mask is worn so you can easily breathe in the gas. It only takes a few seconds for the gas to begin working. The effects will wear off quickly as soon as the gas is removed. You will be able to drive yourself home afterward.
• Oral Sedation. Some patients are given medication to be taken by mouth. Each person’s situation is different, and Dr. Gibbs will determine the appropriate dosage. You may be given one pill to take before going in for the dental procedure. Some patients are given one dose the night before and another dose the morning before the procedure. Even though you should remain awake during the procedure, you won’t remember much of it afterward. The medication can make you groggy for a few hours, but it should wear off within 24 hours. You will need someone to drive you home.
• IV Sedation. During conscious sedation or IV sedation, you will remain conscious during procedures, but you’ll be totally relaxed. You won’t experience pain, and you will not remember the procedure afterward.

Can any dentist perform sedation?

Oral sedation and nitrous oxide can be given by most dentists. However, to administer IV sedation or general anesthesia, dentists have to complete a separate program and become accredited to do so. Some dentists opt to use a specialist or anesthesiologist to administer general anesthesia to their patients.

How safe is sedation dentistry?

Dental sedation is safe for most people. Your San Pablo dentist will talk with you and take your personal needs into account before recommending a type of sedation. Certain health conditions or current medications will be taken into consideration to determine which is the safest method for you.

What types of sedation does Dr. Gibbs use?

It’s important to us that you feel comfortable during your visit. We offer several forms of sedation to patients including IV sedation. Dr. Gibbs will discuss the most appropriate option for you prior to your procedure.

How much does sedation dentistry cost?

The cost for sedation dentistry will vary based on the type of sedation that is used. You will be made aware of the costs of being sedated before your procedure. Be sure to check with your insurance to see if your policy covers it.

Contact Our Offices Today

Do you have more questions for the Glen Ellyn dental team? Call us today at (630) 858-8800 or book your appointment online. Be sure to ask Dr. Gibbs which method of sedation is right for you.

 

Sedation Dentistry Will Relax Your Fears

Welcome back to our Illinois dentistry blog!

We hope that the information you receive here is beneficial to you and your family, and we hope that you will be inspired to come see us in-person sometime soon.

At Smile Glen Ellyn, we try to make it easy for you to receive all the oral health care you will need throughout your life by providing comprehensive dental solutions in one convenient location.

That said, we know that you may not be entirely comfortable coming to your Glen Ellyn, IL dentist’s office. Not because it isn’t a comfortable setting!

It’s a fact that just the thought of dentists and doctors makes some people nervous.

If you are hesitant at all, we can put you at ease with one of our sedation dentistry options.

Dental Anxiety Is A Real Condition

There are plenty of reasons why folks neglect their health and avoid their dentists. Dental anxiety is a real condition that we take seriously around here.

It’s alright to be nervous.

The problem is when you start doing everything you can to avoid getting proper care.

When you don’t let us do our part, your oral health and overall wellness can deteriorate quickly. Even if you are diligent about brushing and flossing at home, you are doing yourself a great disservice by avoiding your Glen Ellyn, IL dentist.

This is because professional teeth cleanings are the only effective way to eradicate bacteria, tartar, and plaque that will inevitably linger waiting to cause bigger problems for you. These problems can include cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, and worse.

Plus, if we don’t have the opportunity to regularly conduct dental exams, we won’t know if anything serious is unfolding until it is too late. By not being aware or by failing to confront the reality of your situation, whatever it may be, you are setting yourself up for more pain and expense later.

We Can Give You A Better Experience

Some of our patients can recall having had an unkind dentist when they were young, which is extremely unfortunate. Others remember having endured a painful procedure or being afraid of the dental drill.

Whatever has happened to you in the past, at Smile Glen Ellyn, we can give you better dental experiences moving forward.

We really are on your side. Our primary concern is to get you in here and get your health back on track as painlessly as possible. End of story. No lectures or condescending remarks await you in our office.

Honestly, the majority of folks who walk through our doors love it here.

In part, that is because we do everything we possibly can to make sure you don’t feel any pain or discomfort while you are entrusted to our care.

Beyond that, things have improved with dentistry in general over the years. It probably isn’t like you remembered it at all.

For instance, we have much better anesthetics than in previous eras, “Wand” syringeless delivery systems, and dental lasers at our disposal for much more comfortable treatments and procedures.

Don’t take our word for it, come in and see for yourself!

Sedation Dentistry Is A Gas!

No matter what kind of treatment you are supposed to be receiving, we can relax you when you get here with nitrous oxide, aka “laughing gas.”

This is our go-to sedation method for relaxing a mildly fearful patient.

Oral conscious sedation is our method for kicking anxiety control up a notch. These sedatives are delivered in a pill form and can reliably produce a very relaxed state in no time.

What’s more, we are among the few dental offices in the state of Illinois to be able to “put people asleep” using pill or IV dental sedation. And if that is what you require to receive the necessary treatment, we will not hesitate to go there.

We Can Help You Get Past Your Anxiety

We have a kind and compassionate staff at Smile Glen Ellyn, and providing gentle, pain-free dental visits for our patients is among our top concerns.

So, when you contact us today, please let us know how we can help make it easier for you!

Almost everybody gets the jitters when it comes to visiting the dentist. Ask anyone on the street in Glen Ellyn, or anywhere in the Chicago area. It’s estimated that 60% of people report some kind of worry or outright fear of the dentist.

There are lots of reasons for this, almost as many as there are people, but they fall under four major categories:

Bad Memories

It might have been a traumatic incident in a dentist’s office that happened in the distant past. Even though dentistry continues to evolve at an incredible rate, many people can’t help but think of the dentist’s office as something out of the medieval era.

Hollywood

Other people believe what they see in movies and television, like Steve Martin’s character in “Little Shop of Horrors” . It’s a great little musical, and while Martin’s portrayal of a “mad dentist” is certainly fun to watch, it hasn’t done many favors for us in the dentistry field.

Google University

What’s their mascot? One of our biggest challenges is the growing number of recent “graduates” from Google University. While we’re big fans of patients educating themselves about the procedures and technologies we employ, there is a lot of bad information out there, and people can “freak” as a result.

General Anxiety

Of course, some people are just anxious: it’s part of who they are, and they’ll be skittish about anything.

What’s Worse?

Whatever the reason, if you’re afraid of the dentist, you shouldn’t let that stop you from taking care of your teeth.

The thing with teeth is they never just “get better” after years of neglect or serious injury. Without proper treatment, they only get worse. Some people are able to weigh this out and can at least force themselves into the chair.

Unfortunately though, many people simply can’t do it, and that’s where sedation dentistry comes in.

What’s Sedation Dentistry?

For those who simply can’t handle being in the chair, sedation dentistry allows them to be more comfortable by helping them relax. Some people even need to be “out” to sit through an appointment, and we can help there, too.

There are lots of different methods of sedation that we use here at Smile Glen Ellyn. Here’s a cheat sheet to help you understand your options:

Laughing Gas

This is the form of sedation that most people are familiar with. “Laughing Gas” is actually nitrous oxide, and it’s a proven way of helping patients relax so that they can sit in the chair and handle whatever procedure comes their way.

If you haven’t had “laughing gas” before, here’s what to expect:

A “mask” will be placed over your nose. The nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen and it goes through tubes attached to the mask.
You’ll get a brief, light “high” that helps you relax. It goes away quickly after we remove the mask and you’re exposed to normal air again.

Laughing Gas won’t “conk you out”; you’re still conscious, just more relaxed.

If you’re only mildly anxious about seeing the dentist, this might be your option, or if you have a strong gag reflex. In some cases, the gas can be paired with oral sedation.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is one of the more recent advances in sedation dentistry, and it’s been successful for a great many patients, especially for minor procedures.

Oral sedation represents an advance in dental pharmacology. No masks, no needles, just two pills. If you require oral sedation, you’ll take one pill an hour before your appointment, and one more just before your treatment actually starts.

Most people only need the two pills, but your dentist might administer more if it’s appropriate. This could effect the timing of your treatment, so make sure to discuss this with your dentist in detail.

Oral sedation is stronger than gas, so it’s more effective for people who have more anxiety than most people, or those who have a hard time getting “numb”. Oral sedation allows us to get more work done faster.

Oral sedation is fairly new, and because it is a drug, it must be administered carefully by a dentist certified in its use. Here in Illinois, only 2% of dentists are actually licensed to provide oral sedation, and we’re part of that small group.

Make sure any dentist you visit is licensed if you’re considering any kind of sedation!

IV Sedation

If nitrous oxide or oral sedation aren’t enough to help you feel comfortable in the chair, Smile Glen Ellyn also offers IV, or intravenous, sedation.

This is the most advanced and most powerful sedative available in dentistry, and like oral sedation, it requires very special licensing that only a few dentists in Illinois have; we are licensed to provide IV sedation.

If you need IV sedation, it’s either because physiologically, you can’t receive other, less intense methods:

• Your gag reflex is especially strong
• You’re allergic to certain drugs
• You have a severe medical condition

Of course, it’s also great if you need to have a lot of work done, either because you simply need a lot of work, or you’d like to reduce the number of appointments you need to make and keep.

However, if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that your anxiety about going to the dentist is so severe, it might even be classified as a phobia.

It’s estimated that 5% to 8% of Americans have dental anxiety that is so bad, they avoid going to the dentist entirely. This will definitely lead to reduced oral health and more intensive dental procedures, to say nothing of the knock-on effects in other parts of the body due to poor oral health.

If this sounds like you, IV sedation might be the best option for you. Keep in mind that this technique produces what we call a “profound state of relaxation”. None of the techniques we employ will knock you out, or “put you to sleep”. You will still be aware of what’s going on, but you’ll just be very, very relaxed, and able to withstand the procedure.

The “Magic” Wand

On top of all these techniques, we offer what’s called “The Wand” for the delivery of local anesthetic.

Everyone who’s had a filling, root canal, or any moderately serious dental procedure knows “The Needle”. It’s big, it’s metal, and it hurts, mostly because the pressure of the numbing agent being pushed by the syringe is pretty intense.

“The Wand” on the other hand uses a computer to control the pressure and the flow of anesthetic as well as it’s temperature. This greatly reduces discomfort while speeding the effect of the anesthesia.

Novocaine has also been replaced in our office by a new anesthetic called Articaine, which does its job better than novocaine ever could.

Don’t Let Dental Anxiety or Phobia Keep You From Good Oral Health!

No matter how scary the dentist is to you, it will never be scarier than what can happen if you neglect your teeth.

Always remember: We have nothing to fear but fear itself!

If dental anxiety or phobia has kept you out of the chair and prevented you from getting and keeping your best smile, please make an appointment. It’s just a click away with our handy online appointment form, or you can call us at 630-858-8800.