Feel Confident in the Dental Chair with Sedation Dentistry

Do you have dental anxiety? You are not alone! Nearly 50% of the population struggles with dental fear. So, why do you have dental anxiety? No one was born with a fear of the dentist. It’s something that develops gradually, often due to past experiences or learned behaviors.

The common causes of dental anxiety include: 

• Negative past experiences at a dental office
• Fear of pain
• A strong gag reflex
• Feeling loss of control in the dental chair
• Embarrassment with the current state of oral health
• Discomfort with personal invasion by dental instruments

Dental fear can be heightened by factors like generalized anxiety disorder and high pain sensitivity, creating a complex, multifactorial condition. The good news is that dental anxiety is manageable. With today’s modern techniques, gentle care, and sedation options, your dental experience can be calm, comfortable, and positive.

Dental anxiety can be mild, moderate, or severe. Our Aliso Viejo dental office offers several sedation options customized to your unique needs. 

Our options include: 

• Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas is the mildest form of sedation suitable for patients of all ages. It’s administered via a comfortable nasal mask, and its effects kick in after a few minutes. You’ll remain awake during your procedure but will be calm and stress-free. A compelling benefit of nitrous oxide is its ability to facilitate quick recovery. Its effects dissipate immediately after the procedure, allowing you to resume your everyday life immediately. 
• Oral conscious sedation: It’s a pill-based sedation that provides stronger effects than nitrous oxide. Your sedation dentist will prescribe anti-anxiety medication taken about an hour before treatment. While under the effects of this sedation, you’ll be awake but calm and relaxed. However, you will likely remember little about your treatment. Due to the lingering sedation effects, you’ll require someone to accompany you to and from our office. 
• IV sedation: It’s administered directly to your bloodstream through an IV line in your arm. Its effects can be adjusted, ranging from mild to deep sedation. It’s not uncommon to sleep through your procedure while under IV sedation. 

Dental anxiety doesn’t have to hold you back. Enjoy relaxing dental visits with sedation dentistry in Aliso Viejo, California. We’ve helped countless patients conquer their dental fears and can help you, too.