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The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry makes it easier for a variety of patients that struggle with dental appointments to get dental care. Dr. Justin Deckard of DC Precision Dentistry, a dentist in Washington DC, explains what sedation dentistry is and how it can help you have a smoother dental experience.dentist in washington dc

What is Sedation Dentistry?

There are multiple forms of sedation dentistry that are available at our office. Before we administer sedation dentistry, we’ll discuss your medical history, current medical problems, and oral health. We want to make sure we give you a form of sedation that’s safe for you to use and will meet your needs.

First, we have nitrous oxide for sedation. You may also know this as laughing gas. This is given to you through a mask on your nose throughout the procedure. It takes effect almost immediately when you start breathing it in and wears off just as fast when the mask is removed. You’ll be able to drive yourself to and from the procedure. Nitrous oxide keeps you relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure, but alert enough to communicate.

The next step is oral conscious sedation in the form of a prescribed pill that you’ll take about an hour before your procedure. It takes a while to wear off, so you’ll need a ride to and from the procedure. This keeps you extremely relaxed throughout the procedure and you may fall asleep or not remember parts of it afterward.

The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

If you’re suffering from dental fear, sedation dentistry may be a solution for you. Dental fear and anxiety plague many people. Depending on how bad it is, you may skip regular dental appointments. This can make your oral health worse and lead to serious dental problems. Sedation dentistry allows you to get the oral healthcare you need, whenever you need it.

Sedation can also help us do multiple restorative dental procedures at one time. For instance, if you haven’t been keeping up with regular dental care, you may have some serious problems to take care of. Sedation means that our dental team can get these fixes done quickly and easily, causing a minimal amount of discomfort for the patient.

Certain medical conditions can make it difficult to receive proper dental treatment. It may be hard or impossible for a patient to sit still to get the dental care they need. We want to be sure we can take care of dental health for all of our patients. Sedation can help patients remain still and calm throughout the procedure and avoid accidentally causing discomfort if a patient moves unexpectedly.

Sedation Dentistry at Your Washington DC Dentist

Suffering from dental anxiety or other issues? Sedation dentistry can be a fix for you. Call us or schedule a consultation online to learn more.