Treatment Options for Dental Anxiety

Treatment Options for Dental Anxiety

 sedation dentist Charlottesville Dental phobias and anxiety can make receiving oral healthcare difficult. Since anxiety can produce feelings of great distress and even keep patients from receiving necessary care, our oral surgeons offer medication options for dealing with phobias and anxiety. As sedation dentists, our doctors can provide the right type of medication to suit an individual’s needs. This means that our guests can enjoy safe and effective sedation during common procedures such as tooth extraction and the placement of dental implants.

How Sedation Works

There are varying levels of sedation, which all have different benefits and applications in oral and maxillofacial procedures. For instance, mild anxiety can be alleviated with nitrous oxide gas while more moderate and severe anxiety may be treated with oral tablets or intravenous medication. In all instances, sedation produces a calming effect on the mind and body by targeting the neurotransmitters in the brain that release chemicals related to emotions like panic and fear.

Types of Sedation

Nitrous oxide, a gas used as a very mild sedative and anesthetic, is administered through a soft nasal mask. This gas produces euphoric and calming effects and wears off quickly so that patients can drive home after their appointments.

Oral tablets are prescribed medication and normally belong to the benzodiazepine family of drugs. Benzodiazepines like Valium or Ativan, are formulated to stop the chemical responses in the brain that produce panic and worry. Since this medication has stronger sedative effects that nitrous oxide, patients will not be able to drive home from their appointments.

IV sedation is typically reserved for complex treatment. This method of sedation is strong yet highly controllable because the dosage can be adjusted through the IV line. With IV sedation, a patient may have limited recollection of their procedure.

If you have fears of receiving dental work, we encourage you to discuss this with our team. We will be happy to accommodate your needs and assuage your concerns. For questions or to schedule an examination with our sedation dentists, call our practice today.