It's not uncommon to experience some nervousness in the dental chair before having a dental procedure performed. Unfortunately, some patients are literally terrified of the dental chair and don't get the treatment they need because of debilitating fear.
The good news is here at Ayan Dentistry we offer several options.
Local Anesthetic: This is the most common used for routine dental procedures. This is simply an injection that will numb a specific area so we can work on you without pain or discomfort. Lidocaine is the most common local anesthetic used in dentistry, however, there are many others. This is a temporarily numbing that will usually wear off over several hours. Since you are not sedated you are able to drive yourself home.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas): Nitrous Oxide is a safe and effective sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over your nose to help your relax. It is not intended to put you asleep just to make you feel more comfortable and calm. The effect of Nitrous Oxide wears off soon after the mask is taken off.
IV Sedation: This term is also referred to as "sleep dentistry or "twilight sleep". In reality, you remain conscious during conscious IV sedation. You will also be able to understand and respond to requests from your dentist. However, you may not remember much (or anything at all) about what went on because of two things.
1. IV sedation induces a state of deep relaxation and a feeling of not being bothered by what's going on.
2. The drugs used for IV sedation produce either partial or full memory loss (amnesia) for the period of time when the drug kicks in until it wears off. As a result, time will appear to pass very quickly and you will not recall much of what happened. Many people remember nothing at all. So it may, indeed, appear as if you were "asleep" during the procedure.
I am available to assist you in learning more about how to alleviate your dental anxiety. Please feel free to contact us so we can help you have your dental treatment as comfortable as possible.
Call Ayan Dentistry today for your exam at (239) 732-9000.
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