Nearly one-third of people are scared of going to the dentist, whether it’s because of a bad past experience, a fear of dental equipment, generalized anxiety, or something else. While dental anxiety is common, the good news is that oral and intravenous (IV) sedation can help you fully unwind. Think anxiety-free cleanings, stress-free root canals, and total relaxation.
Learn more about dental sedation by contacting Adam Cottrill, DMD, at Nashville Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee.
So what exactly is dental sedation? It’s a medicine you receive orally, or intravenously via a vein in your arm, that helps you feel more relaxed, become drowsy, or even fall asleep during a dental procedure. In other words, you can complete any dental treatment without anxiety, panic, or a sense of doom.
At Nashville Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, we offer the following types of dental sedation to ease your anxiety:
Oral conscious sedation uses a sedative medication you can take orally in pill or liquid form before each treatment. You’ll begin to feel groggy or even fall asleep after taking the medication, but you can easily be awakened with a gentle nudge during dental procedures.
IV sedation is another form of conscious sedation. You receive a sedative via an IV, which delivers the medicine directly into your bloodstream to help you relax or fall asleep.
Candidates for dental sedation may include individuals who:
Dr. Cottrill discusses your sedation options to determine which may be right for you. However, you should know that pregnant women generally aren’t good candidates for sedation.
You typically receive your sedative before receiving local anesthesia, so you can relax as soon as you enter the dental chair.
You’ll need to make arrangements for a family member or friend to drive you home after the dental visit, as you’ll still be groggy as the sedative wears off. In fact, it might take about 24 hours for the full effects of oral or IV sedation to clear your body. Avoid returning to school or work until the following day or as directed by Dr. Cottrill.
Take advantage of sedation dentistry with Dr. Cottrill at Nashville Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry by contacting us today by phone or by requesting an appointment online.
