Sedation dentistry in Pearisburg

If you are nervous about the dentist

Plenty of people put off the dentist for years, often because of something that happened in a different chair a long time ago. If that is you, say so when you call and again when you sit down, because it changes how the appointment runs.

Nobody here is going to lecture you about how long it has been. If it has been longer than you would like to admit, that is the usual reason people call.

Help that needs no medication

For a lot of people, the simpler things are enough:

• Each step explained before it happens, so nothing comes as a surprise.
• A signal you can use at any point to stop, and we stop.
• Breaks whenever you need one.
• Numbing done properly, and checked before we start.
• More time, so nobody is rushing you.

What is nitrous oxide like?

Nitrous oxide, sometimes called laughing gas, is mixed with oxygen and breathed through a small mask that rests over your nose. Most people feel relaxed, a little light or tingly, and much less bothered by what is going on. You stay awake, you can talk, and you can answer questions.

The amount can be adjusted during the appointment, and it wears off quickly once the mask is off. It is available on request, for a cleaning as much as for bigger treatment. Just tell us when you book.

How oral sedation works

Oral sedation is a prescribed pill, taken before your appointment, that makes you drowsy and calm. You are still awake and can respond, though some people remember little of the appointment afterward.

Because it makes you drowsy, you will need someone to drive you. It is prescribed for a particular appointment, so it has to be arranged ahead of time rather than on the day. Follow the instructions you are given for your appointment exactly, and ask if anything in them is unclear.

Neither kind of sedation replaces numbing. When a treatment needs it, the tooth is still numbed with local anesthetic as usual. Sedation takes the edge off everything around it.

Who sedation helps

Not everyone needs sedation, and not every treatment calls for it. A small filling may go more easily with numbing and a few breaks than with a pill and a ride home.

Sedation is worth talking about if any of these sound like you:

• Anxiety that has kept you away, or turns every visit into an ordeal.
• A strong gag reflex that makes X-rays, scans or cleanings hard.
• A long appointment, such as a root canal or several fillings at once, where sitting still is the hard part.
• Trouble getting numb in the past. Tell us about that either way, so we can allow for it.

Before any sedation

Before either kind, we go through your medical history and every medication you take, including anything bought over the counter, because some combine badly with sedatives. Tell us about breathing problems, including sleep apnea, and anything that has changed since your last visit.

Tell us if you are pregnant, or might be. Sedation may not be the right choice then, and we will talk through what else can help.

Where to start

Say so when you call. Tell whoever answers that you are nervous, and whether you would like to talk about sedation. We will go through the options before anything is done, including whether you need sedation at all. If you are new to the office, your first visit explains what happens.

Questions patients ask