What Is Involved In Sedation Dentistry?
If you’re feeling nervous about visiting the dentist for any reason, you’re not alone. Some have such intense anxiety that they avoid dental care altogether. At Dream Dental, we offer sedation dentistry that relaxes and calms patients during dental procedures. We offer three levels of sedation (mild, moderate, and deep) depending on the procedure and the patient’s needs. We can also administer nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” as a sedative agent to help patients relax during treatment. This wears off quickly after the procedure is complete, so there’s no need to worry about lingering effects afterward. Before we start a treatment, we will review your medical history with you and make sure you’re a good candidate for sedation dentistry.
We offer three different levels of sedation:
- Oral Conscious Sedation – With this method, you’ll take a pill about an hour before your procedure. You’ll feel relaxed and free from stress, but you’ll be awake and able to respond to questions if needed. The effects will last for several hours after you take the pill, so you should have a friend or family member drive you home afterward.
- Intravenous (IV) Sedation – If you’ve had bad experiences with the dentist in the past or if you have severe dental anxiety, this may be the best option for you. This type of sedation is administered intravenously with a light sedative that will leave you feeling very calm and relaxed throughout the entire duration of your treatment. Your heart rate will be monitored, and you’ll also be connected to a breathing tube for an added level of comfort.
- Nitrous Oxide – Nitrous oxide is one of the most effective methods for relaxation in dentistry today. It allows us to perform procedures without any discomfort or pain for the patient. This gas is very easy to absorb and works very quickly. We administer the gas through a mask that is placed over the patient’s nose. The patient then breathes through their mouth until the procedure is over.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are permanent tooth replacements that look and feel like real teeth. Usually made of titanium, dental implants replace both the root and the crown of a missing tooth to provide added support and stability for crowns and dentures. They also help to preserve bone density in the jaw, which helps to prevent future tooth loss. These small metal screws may be implanted into the jawbone during a simple in-office procedure that takes about an hour to an hour-and-a-half to complete. During this process, your oral surgeon will first drill a hole into your jawbone and then insert the dental implant screw into the hole. Once the implant has fused with the bone of the jaw, it only takes a few more steps to attach a custom dental crown or denture to the post to complete the restoration process. Visit our dental office to learn more about the benefits of dental implants!
What are NoMo dentures?
NoMo dentures are a more affordable alternative to traditional removable dentures. Instead of replacing every tooth with an individual crown, the restoration is anchored by a set of dental implants on each side of the mouth. They are held in place using a ball-and-socket mechanism instead of messy pastes and adhesives. This ensures a more natural-looking smile and also helps to protect the remaining natural teeth from wear and tear. Unlike the traditional approach of placing dental implants and fabricating dentures, which may take months, the NoMo denture process can be completed in a single appointment. Here, our dentist will fix the implant restorations and place the removable appliance on its top in a single appointment.
