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If you, or someone you love, suffers from dental anxiety, you know how hard it can be to call and make an appointment with a dentist.
Dental anxiety and fear of the dentist affect a significant number of people, making it challenging for them to get the dental care that they need and deserve. The causes of dental anxiety are varied and complex, and they include:
- fear of needles and shots
- difficulty getting numb
- strong gag reflex
- anxiety about loss of control
- panic attacks
- low tolerance for pain
- bad dental experiences in the past
- physical disabilities that make it difficult to undergo treatment
- TMJ pain
- post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Fortunately, there’s a solution for dental anxiety: sedation for dentistry.
Whether you have mild, moderate, or extreme dental anxiety or fear, sedation can help ensure a painless, positive experience.
Ours are some of the few dental offices in the Phoenix and Mesa area to offer all three types of sedation for dentistry, and each one can be beneficial.
IV Sedation / General Anesthesia
IV sedation is the deepest form of sedation, and it can be extremely helpful if you’re terrified of the dentist and/or a specific procedure. With IV sedation, which is administered through an IV in your arm, you’ll be completely knocked out. You won’t hear, see, taste, smell, or feel anything. Thanks to IV sedation, we can also complete large blocks of dental work in a single visit, which means less trips to the dentist. Our dental office only administers IV sedation to adults.
Oral Sedation / Conscious Sedation
Oral sedation is the moderate form of sedation, and it can be a great choice for adults and children (ages 12 and older). With conscious sedation, you take a pill before your dental appointment, and it calms you and puts you in an altered state. You’re “awake,” but you’re less aware of your surroundings. Time will seem to pass quickly, and after your dental appointment, you’ll have little or no recollection of it.
Laughing Gas / Nitrous Oxide
Laughing gas is the mildest form of sedation, so mild that many people even request laughing gas for cleanings. We administer nitrous oxide through a nosepiece, and we can control the level that you’re receiving, which ensures that you’re always comfortable. For most dental treatments and procedures (other than dental cleanings), we use laughing gas in conjunction with Novocain, which is a numbing agent. Laughing gas will relax you, maybe even make you feel like giggling. For many people, it helps take the edge off, lowering their dental anxiety and reducing their fear.
For more information about overcoming dental anxiety, or to schedule a free consultation or appointment, please call:
Mesa - Modern Dentistry East Valley - (480) 359-3827
Please Note: Our dental offices are east of Phoenix, in Mesa.