Anxiety-Free Dental Visits
Dentist Ann Arbor, MI
 What is Sedation?
Many people are afraid of going to see the dentist. However, for patients who struggle with dental phobias and anxiety, we have a solution. Sedation allows us to utilize a variety of techniques to help a patient relax during dental surgery. We also use sedation dentistry for procedures that may involve pain, even if the patient is completely calm. Thanks to the prevalence of sedatives, we can help you have an anxiety-free dental visit.
What Kind of People Need Sedation?
Sedation is suitable for those with strong fears or anxieties that prevent them from coming to see the dentist. It is also designed for patients who have a low tolerance for pain, overly sensitive teeth, a bad gag reflex, or if they have trouble sitting still in the dentist’s chair. We might also use it if we’re administering a large amount of dental work.
We can also give sedation to children if they are too scared or have a hard time sitting still for the procedure. Nitrous oxide is safe for children, and we are licensed to administer it. Oral sedation is also possible. We have a recommended dose for it based on each child’s age and weight.
Are there any Limitations for Receiving Sedation?
For us to safely put you under any sedation, you must have good overall health. Dr. Embree will need to review your medical history and take a physical assessment before we can proceed. The dentist will also ask what medications you're presently taking.
We might even ask you to contact your doctor to receive medical clearance, especially if you have one of the following conditions:
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Cardiac disease
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Respiratory disease
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Diabetes
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Hypertension
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Obesity
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Sleep apnea |
We need to thoroughly address complications such as these before you are cleared for anesthesia.
How Safe is Sedation?
Receiving anesthetics always entails certain risks. If we determine that you should receive sedation for your procedure, we will give you a form that explains these risks and carefully go over it with you. Ask questions if you don’t understand something. Dr. Embree and our team have done many sedations and surgeries; you can trust in our collective experience and skill set.
We will give you a dosage prescribed by the FDA for your age and health. During the procedure, we will monitor your vital signs. We’ll also have oxygen and medication to reverse the sedation’s effects on hand. We have many safety precautions that we need to check off before we administer any sedatives. You’re in good hands with us.
What is Anesthesia?
If a procedure involves intense pain or a patient is overly anxious or nervous, we may opt to administer anesthesia to numb the pain or relax the patient. There are two kinds of anesthesia: local and general.
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Local anesthesia dulls pain in part of the mouth or the entire mouth during dental work, but doesn’ |
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t make the patient lose consciousness. This is the more commonly-used type of anesthesia.
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General anesthesia uses drugs to cause the patient to lose consciousness for a short period. This type of anesthesia is administered for certain procedures every once in a while, such as for wisdom teeth extractions. |
What is the Procedure for Anesthesia?
Preparation
If Dr. Embree determines that you require local anesthesia for a dental procedure, we will first air-dry or use cotton balls to dry a section of your mouth. Then we will use a gel to swab the area to numb your skin.
Injection
The next step is to inject the anesthetic slowly into the gums with a needle. Most people don’t even feel the needle, but they do experience a sting when the anesthetic enters the gum tissue.
After Effects
Once the local anesthesia is injected, the effects can last for several hours. Once you leave Everwell Dentistry, you might have trouble speaking clearly, eating, or drinking. Make sure you don’t bite down on the numbed area. If you do, you could harm yourself and not even realize it.
General Anesthesia
If you require general anesthesia, then we will administer it by IV. We may also have you inhale a gaseous anesthetic. This will put you to sleep for the entire procedure. You may need a considerable amount of time to recover at the office before you can go home. We also recommend coordinating with someone who can drive you to and from the office.
What Other Kinds of Dental Sedation are Available?
In addition to local and general anesthesia, we also have some alternatives.
Laughing Gas
One of the most commonly used forms of sedation we use at our office is nitrous oxide, also known as inhalation analgesia or "laughing gas." Employed for pain alleviation during childbirth, laughing gas won’t make you lose consciousness. It is highly effective when it comes to reducing anxiety during dental procedures.
Known for its safety, laughing gas is used in most dental offices. Injections of local anesthesia are also combined with nitrous oxide, and the results are highly effective. Some cases are almost painless. Regardless, the gas is often administered via a machine to reduce the strain of the injection further.
Enteral Sedation
Enteral sedation is taken orally, in the form of a pill or liquid. Now and then we administer enteral sedation together with laughing gas. Moderate oral sedation can cause some patients to get groggy enough to fall asleep while the procedure is taking place. However, even if you remain conscious, you won’t feel nervous about the dental procedure.
IV Sedation
Intravenous (IV) sedation has the sedative injecting into one of the patient’s veins directly. If we use this technique, we can provide you with a deeper level of sedation. You will remain conscious, but not very aware of the procedure taking place. If we choose this option, you will need time to recover after you leave our office.
If you have questions or concerns about dental procedures or sedation, please give us a call at (734) 973-0000.
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