Maryland Cosmetic Dentist

Let’s face it – there isn’t a single person on this earth that hasn’t walked into a dentists office without at least a small pang of anxiety. Dental work is invasive by nature, and it is perfectly normal to be nervous going into a visit. For some of us, it can be too much, leading to extreme anxiety and even panic attacks. This, however, should not be reason to avoid the dentist, as dental care is extremely important, not only for your teeth but for your overall physical health as well. Fortunately, there is a solution to this dilemma, and lays in what many people call sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry is really not “new” per say, but is actually more of a culmination of techniques into a single method that is meant to alleviate the anxiety that one may feel from going to a dentist. Through the use of IV medication, dentists are able to sedate their patients during their exam. The fact is, the patient can be sedated to various degrees until comfortable. Thus, it is not necessary to sedate a patient until unconscious – only up until they feel comfortable.

This method of dentistry borrows from the sedation techniques used by oral surgeons for such procedures as wisdom teeth removal and root canals. Obviously, these procedures are too painful to be conscious during the work. However, by using small amounts of the same or similar medications during a routine dentist appointment, the dentist can render the patient more relaxed and thus better able to deal with the appointment. Unlike oral sedation, IV sedation is very quick – almost instantaneous. Thus, if any discomfort is felt, the dentist is able to sedate the patient almost immediately.

If you have ever had a fear of dentistry that has kept you from taking adequate care of your teeth, talk to your dentist about anxiety-free sedation dentistry. It may be exactly what you need in order to get you through a dentist appointment. Remember that there is no reason to skim over dental health, as it is extremely important to your overall well-being. If it is anxiety that bothers you, sedation dentistry may be the right type of treatment for you.