Sedation

At Eric Meyer General and Cosmetic Dentistry, we believe that patients should be comfortable at all times. Whether it’s just a normal cleaning or an invasive procedure, we offer different sedation methods for those suffering from dental phobias. Studies have shown that nearly 15 percent of Americans suffer from a dental anxiety issues. Dental fears can come from a number of situations. If you had a negative experience in the past, feel like you don’t have any control or even if you’re embarrassed about your teeth then it might be tough to make that follow-up appointment. Luckily, for these situations we offer a number of options when it comes to sedation.

The most common form of sedation is Nitrous Oxide (N2O), also known as laughing gas. N2O works very rapidly, reaching the brain within 20 seconds or so. Patients will be able to hear and respond to and directives or requests Dr. Meyer may have. You will feel like you’re in a euphoric state and may experience dreams as a result. IV sedation is another service we offer. The sedation will be administered through a vein and offer immediate effects. Patients will have less of a recovery time as well because once it is cut off the sedatives will leave the blood stream.

For patients who have trouble with needles or gas, there are other options available. We can offer you anxiolysis sedation, such as valium to reduce anxiety. The final way in which we utilize sedation is through oral conscious sedation. This local anesthetic will not knock you out completely, but will allow you to be treated without any anxiety. Oral sedations are often used for patients with mild to moderate anxiety and are not as powerful as the other sedation methods.

If you have a dental phobia and aren’t sure which sedation method is right for you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric Meyer to discuss which option is best for you.