Those who have a fear of going to the dentist are known to have dental phobias. Their anxiety makes it hard for them to treat their oral conditions, later resulting to even more severe oral problems. To help their patients overcome their fear and anxiety, Phoenix sedation dentistry experts calm their patients using sedatives. Different modes of sedation can be administered, depending on the level of anxiety of the patient.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

According to statics, an estimate of 35% of dental offices uses nitrous oxide for sedating their patients during dental procedures. It was also noted that about 88% of dentists use this for pediatric dentistry. Since nitrous oxide does not require needle injections, young patients will feel less anxious during the treatment.

Nitrous oxide, also called as “laughing gas,” is inhaled before the treatment is administered. When a patient has been given nitrous oxide, he will feel lightheaded and a slightly warm. Numbness will also be felt, especially on the finger tips. Although the patient can feel all these, he will remain conscious all throughout the procedure, and will still be capable of responding to the Paradise Valley dentist performing the treatment.

Nitrous oxide can be used to combat mild to moderate anxiety. It also provides immediate relief with only a few side effects such as slight lack of coordination. The effects will immediately wear off after the procedure, allowing the patient to return to his normal activities within hours.

IV Sedation

Unlike nitrous oxide sedation, Intravenous (IV) sedation is done through injections. The sedative is directly injected into the blood stream, allowing the sedative to take effect immediately. What’s even better is that the dosage can be adjusted if the patient is not fully sedated. However, this should only be done by a trained Phoenix sedation dentist like the members of Dr. Kidess’ team.

Like nitrous oxide sedation, the patient may feel lightheaded during the procedure, but still responsive to the dentist’s instructions. Some of the side effects of IV sedation are mild amnesia and numbness. The patient might also need to be accompanied by someone since the effects might not wear off immediately.

Oral Sedation

Medications that are taken prior to the treatment fall under oral sedation. Patients should consult their Phoenix sedation dentist regarding the dosage of the medications they should take. Compared to the first two modes of sedation, oral sedation is cheaper and easier to administer. However, the level of sedation can’t be changed like in IV and nitrous oxide sedation. The patient must also be accompanied by someone before and after the procedure since the effects of the sedative might take a while to wear off.