Prevent Dental Anxiety With Relaxation Tips & Sedation

Are you worried about your trip to the dentist? Does the idea of sitting in a dentist’s chair make you feel nervous? Do you postpone dental cleanings and checkups because of your anxiety or stress? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then our caring Ithaca dentist and staff at Ambis Dental can help.

Sedation dentistry provides a safe and comfortable experience for patients so that they can get the care they need and want. At Edward J. Ambis Center for Dental Medicine in Ithaca, NY, Dr. Ambis and the staff are committed to ensuring a comfortable and worry-free experience for you and your entire family.

We cater to our patient’s needs by offering sedation dentistry options in Ithaca, New York. Depending on the type of treatment that you’re getting and your past dental experiences, you can choose a lighter form of an analgesic such as laughing gas (nitrous oxide), or something stronger, like conscious oral sedation.

Your Sedation Options

Oral Conscious Relaxation Dentistry — Oral conscious sedation dentistry (the little “sleep-through-your-dentistry” pill) has become the most common technique in North America to allay dental patients’ anxieties. The method isn’t difficult and does not require needles.

These medications produce such a soothing encounter that the majority of patients don’t recall much about their visit. Oral sedation permits you to remain conscious throughout the whole treatment, but patients most likely won’t be able to remember much of it.

Nitrous Oxide Gas Sedation — Studies show that nitrous oxide gas (better known as laughing gas) is the most effective option for scared patients. More often than not, a person who arrives at their dental appointment anxious is visibly relaxed after one or two breaths of nitrous gas.

Reasons for Sedation Dentistry

If you’re curious about having sedation during your next dental procedure, here are some of the most common reasons for incorporating the service into your upcoming visit:

• Completing multiple procedures in one appointment
• Easing mild to severe anxiety or dental phobia
• Tendency to avoid dental treatment because of past experiences
• More complex treatments, like extractions, gum surgery, or dental implants
• The desire to relax and feel more comfortable

What To Expect After Dental Sedation

Depending on the level of sedation you’re receiving, you may feel quite drowsy for a few hours afterward. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation, however, is light enough that you can drive yourself home when your procedure is over, as it’s quickly reversible.

With deeper sedatives, you’ll need to bring a friend or family member along to drive you home and stay with you until the effects of the medication fully wear off. Although you’ll still be conscious, you won’t be able to operate a vehicle.