Does the thought of a dental appointment cause you stress? You don’t have to choose between fear and a healthy smile anymore. Sedation dentistry offers a gentle solution, allowing you to relax completely—or even feel like you’re sleeping—throughout your treatment.
At Davie Advanced Dentistry, home of the best dentists in Davie, we make receiving care easy and stress-free. We welcome patients from Cooper City, Plantation, and Hollywood to discover our sedation dentistry options for relaxing visits. Stop postponing your necessary dental work and call us today to discuss your sedation options at 305-945-0909.
When selecting a dental practice, you deserve more than just routine care—you deserve confidence and comfort. At Davie Advanced Dentistry, we’re set apart by the unique combination of advanced medical training and a profound commitment to patient well-being, especially for those seeking sedation dentistry.
Dental anxiety is the fear, unease, or stress associated with visiting the dentist for preventive care or procedures. It is a common psychological barrier that often leads people to delay or avoid necessary dental treatment, which can lead to worsening oral health.
Symptoms of dental anxiety can be physical, emotional, and behavioral. You might be experiencing dental anxiety if you:
Stop postponing your health due to anxiety. Call us today to discuss your sedation dentistry options and experience truly compassionate care: 305-945-0909.
Sedation dentistry involves using medication to help you achieve a state of deep relaxation and calmness while allowing Dr. Abbo to perform your necessary dental work. It’s sometimes referred to as sleep dentistry, as many patients become so relaxed they feel as though they slept through the procedure, though they often remain conscious and able to respond to simple requests.
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a commonly used sedative that induces a state of relaxation. Administered through a mask over the nose, nitrous oxide allows you to remain awake while feeling at ease. It helps patients feel calm and relaxed within three to five minutes. It’s an excellent option for those with mild anxiety or who need a quick recovery after the procedure.
IV sedation delivers medication directly into your bloodstream, inducing a deep state of relaxation. During IV sedation, a provider inserts an IV line to send medication directly into the bloodstream, providing quick effects. While you won’t be fully unconscious, you might not remember the procedure afterward. IV sedation is ideal for more complex treatments and patients with significant dental phobias.
Oral sedation is taken in pill form before the procedure, offering a higher level of relaxation than nitrous oxide. Oral conscious sedation involves taking prescription medication about an hour before a procedure to help the patient feel calm. While you’re awake, you might feel drowsy and less aware. Oral sedation is particularly useful for patients with moderate anxiety or long procedures.
General AnesthesiaReserved for extensive procedures or cases where patients must be completely unconscious, general anesthesia ensures you’re asleep. An anesthesiologist administers the medication and closely monitors your vital signs. This type of sedation is typically for oral surgeries or lengthy treatments.
While not a form of sedation, a local anesthetic has many pain-relieving effects. It involves injecting numbing medication into the treatment area, ensuring you don’t feel pain during the procedure. Patients will typically need a local anesthetic in addition to sedation to manage pain during dental procedures. Local anesthetists are often combined with minimal or moderate sedation for a comprehensive comfort experience.
Choosing sedation dentistry benefits go beyond simply being comfortable during your appointment:
Most people are candidates for some form of dental sedation, but the ideal method for you is determined by a few key factors:
Conscious sedation and general anesthesia for dental work an important distinctions. With conscious sedation, you remain awake or easily roused, maintaining your ability to breathe and respond, but you are deeply relaxed. General anesthesia renders you completely unconscious and unable to respond, requiring more extensive monitoring. We primarily use conscious sedation methods for safety and effectiveness in most dental treatments.
The recovery time depends on the type of sedation used. With nitrous oxide, you can typically drive yourself home immediately. Recovery from minimal sedation effects is quick, allowing patients to drive themselves home after a short wait. With oral sedation or IV sedation, you will feel groggy for several hours, and you must have a responsible adult drive you home and stay with you until the effects completely wear off.
Coverage for sedation dentistry costs varies greatly. Basic sedation, like nitrous oxide, may be partially covered, especially if deemed medically necessary. Deeper sedation methods like IV sedation are less frequently covered by standard dental insurance. Our Davie dental staff can verify if our services are a sedation dentist that accepts my insurance and provide a clear, upfront estimate.
No, sedation dentistry for anxious patients is a primary use, but it is also highly recommended for anyone who needs extensive dental work, has a strong gag reflex, has a physical condition that makes sitting still difficult, or requires complex procedures like wisdom teeth removal.
