Controlling Dental Anxiety With Sedation

Do you have a fear of the dentist? If so, we understand. We often meet people with anxiety due to negative past experiences, or simply a lack of experience visiting the dentist. To help these patients, we take time to discuss treatments and we may also offer our North Hollywood, CA, patients sedation dentistry. Find out how we help our patients stay relaxed with unique treatment options.

The Dangers of Dental Anxiety

When you fear going to the dentist, this means you avoid the routine treatments crucial for avoiding the onset of tooth decay and gingivitis. Without treatment, these issues could soon morph into painful infections or even gum disease, eventually causing tooth loss and major negative impacts on your daily life. Don’t let your anxiety cause problems for your smile’s health and beauty. Talk to our team. We can walk you through our treatment options, discuss your anxiety, and if applicable, offer sedation to help you enter a calm and relaxed state throughout the treatment process. We won’t dismiss your concerns, we want to make sure you obtain a healthy smile and enjoy a positive experience!

Our Sedation Options

We have three very different forms of dental sedation for our patients. The most common is nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. We administer the gas through a mask over your nose. You immediately enter a relaxed state, remaining conscious and able to respond to the dentist. You will have little to no memory of the treatment itself, and the effects wear off right away. In fact, you can drive yourself home or even return to work or school!

The next option is known as oral conscious. A deeper form of relaxation, the sedative is taken in the form of a liquid or pill consumed in the morning before your treatment. You’re still conscious and able to respond, but very relaxed with little memory of the experience. Now, the effects will take time to wear off, so you should arrange for a friend or family member to bring you home. Finally, our deepest form is administered through an IV, and a trained anesthesiologist will monitor you throughout the process! We reserve this option for the most severe cases of anxiety, or for very in-depth treatment options, such as oral surgery. If you have any questions about calming options, the please contact our team today!

Do You Need a Calming Treatment?

We want to make sure every patient feels comfortable and relaxed during their visits, even if they have a fear of the dentist. For more information on our approach to dental sedation, then schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smiles in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.