Oral Sedation Dentistry

One of our most popular methods for sedation dentistry is oral conscious sedation. Oral conscious sedation is when Dr. Vlachos prescribes a patient a prescription pill to take the night before their appointment.  The mild sedative allows the patient to enjoy a restful night of sleep before their procedure the following day. Once arriving at our dental office, we will then administer another type of medication that allows you to feel completely relaxed during your entire appointment. We won’t start your treatment until you feel the full effects of the medication.

Although the medication may cause you to fall asleep, you are completely conscious and can easily respond if one of our team members asks you a question. It’s also likely that you won’t remember much of your dental appointment afterward.

When using oral conscious sedation, you will need to arrange for a ride to and from your dental procedure. This is because there’s no telling when your effects will wear off enough for you to drive. We also recommend that patients do not eat anything 12 hours prior to their appointment

IV Sedation Dentistry

We also offer IV sedation dentistry which offers a higher level of sedation to patients. This option is ideal for patients who don’t respond well to oral sedation or the effects of oral sedation are not enough. With IV sedation, we will administer the medication through an IV. This allows us to easily give you more medication throughout your treatment if the effects begin to wear off.

We also require that patients who receive IV sedation do not eat anything 12 hours prior to their procedure and arrange for a ride to and from their appointment.

Who is a Good Candidate?

Patients who struggle with the following make excellent candidates for sedation dentistry.

  • You suffer from a fear of the dentist or dental anxiety
  • Dental work feels particularly painful for you
  • You have a strong gag reflex
  • You want multiple procedures completed at once
  • Sounds or smells of the dental office make you anxious
  • You find it difficult or uncomfortable to sit still for long periods
  • You have a long procedure

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

One of the top benefits of sedation dentistry is that it helps patients stay completely relaxed during their visit with us. Your comfort is our top priority. When you feel comfortable, you’re more likely to visit us to get the treatments you need to maintain your oral health.

Not only does sedation dentistry allow patients to comfortably receive the care they need, but it also helps us out too. When you’re calm and comfortable, we can actually work faster. This means you’re out the door quicker!

Sedation dentistry also allows you to have a positive dental experience. Oftentimes, negative experiences in the past prevent patients from seeking the care they need. Once you start having positive experiences, you won’t cancel your appointments any longer.

If you’re interested in feeling completely relaxed at your next dental appointment with help from one of our sedation dentistry options, please contact Massa Dental Center. We will help you learn more and help you figure out which sedation dentistry option is right for you. Call (239) 597-7333 today or contact us online.