
Oct
Many people in and around the Glen Allen, VA area avoid regular dental care because they are afraid of dental care. For some, this anxiety comes from a prior traumatic experience, for others it’s simply the fear of potential pain and discomfort. Luckily, there is a solution that can get you back to in the dental chair. At Virginia Biological Dentistry, we offer several methods of sedation dentistry to allow our patients to relax before and during their appointment.
Nitrous oxide is usually recommended to patients with only a mild anxiety over the dentist. Commonly referred to as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is inhaled through the nose with nearly instant effects Patients will immediately feel relaxed and at ease once the nitrous oxide has been administered. Nitrous oxide is safe for children, teens, and adults. The effects of nitrous oxide can be reversed immediately with administration of oxygen, which allows patients to drive themselves home and not experience any residual effects such as grogginess. In addition to alleviating anxiety, nitrous oxide is a great option for patients who have a strong gag reflex or those who have trouble becoming fully numb with local anesthetic.
Oral conscious sedation is the next method of sedation offered at our Glen Allen office. It involves taking a prescribed medication prior to arriving at the office for treatment. Patients are awake and able to respond during their appointment, but are extremely relaxed. With this form of sedation, transportation to and from the office should be arranged. The effects of oral conscious sedation often take a few hours to completely resolve. Patients should not operate machinery after oral conscious sedation.
Going to the dentist does not have to be a negative experience. At Virginia Biological Dentistry, we want all of our patients to feel at ease when they come in for service. If you have suffered from dental anxiety in the past and would like to learn more about sedation, we invite you to call us and schedule your consultation today. In addition to sedation dentistry, we provide a wide range of comprehensive dental services for patients in and around the Glen Allen, VA area.