According to some estimates, about 20% of U.S. adults experience high dental anxiety and avoid going to the dentist regularly, often because they believe necessary procedures — such as repairing broken or cracked teeth — are painful. Historically, taking care of dental and endodontal problems was painful.
Luckily, advances in sedation dentistry and in dental and endodontal techniques have virtually removed pain from the equation. You can resolve endodontal and dental issues comfortably and without pain or anxiety at Moberi Dental Specialists in Houston, Texas.
When you come to Moberi Dental Specialists, our top dentists help you choose from a number of sedation options to help you get the dental care you need. Even when you come in for a routine examination, if you have dental anxiety, sedation dentistry makes your experience stress-free.
Each sedation dentistry option varies in strength and effect. However, almost all of them make you feel relaxed enough that you might fall asleep in the examination chair. Prefer to stay awake? If you’re having a minor procedure, your Moberi specialist arranges that, too.
In addition to or instead of other sedation techniques, your Moberi dentist numbs the treatment area with a locally injected anesthetic. The local anesthetic dulls your sensation of pain but doesn’t affect your consciousness. If this is the only pain control you need, you’ll be awake during your entire procedure.
You may need more than a local anesthetic if you have:
Your Moberi specialist also recommends sedation dentistry in addition to a local anesthetic if your procedure is complex or lengthy.
Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, provides minimal sedation that safely does an excellent job of managing anxiety or helping you stay comfortable during relatively minor procedures. Laughing gas is one of the best ways of controlling dental anxiety because it makes you feel calm and relaxed.
You can combine nitrous oxide with another form of sedation, such as oral sedation, if necessary. Although you’re awake while you inhale nitrous oxide, you may not remember your procedure afterward.
Nitrous oxide wears off quickly once your teeth have been repaired. You can drive yourself home after your dental procedure as long as you didn’t combine laughing gas with a sleep-inducing sedative to undergo treatment.
The most common type of sedation dentistry is oral sedation, and it can range in strength from minimal to moderate. Oral sedation comes in pill form and is usually a variant of Valium, called Halcion. You take it about an hour before your procedure so the medication has time to start working before your dentist does.
When you receive a moderate dose, you might fall asleep during your procedure. Your doctor easily awakens you with a gentle shake. However, you’re likely to still feel drowsy, so be sure to arrange for a ride home.
For complex procedures, or to address extreme anxiety, your Moberi specialist administers a calming medication into a vein and controls the amount of intravenous (IV) sedation during your procedure, as necessary.
You need to allow recovery time if you undergo IV sedation because it takes a while for the medication to wear off and for you to feel fully conscious. Even after your recovery, you’re still sleepy, so you must arrange for someone else to drive you home.
If you are having a lengthy procedure, you may choose to undergo general IV anesthesia. You’ll be asleep during your entire procedure and won’t remember it afterward. General anesthesia takes some time to wear off on its own, so be sure to allow sufficient recovery time.
Your dentist also can administer another drug to help you recover more quickly. Be sure to have a drive home already arranged, because you’ll be too sleepy to operate a vehicle.
Just as important as choosing the right kind of sedation dentistry is choosing the right dental team. Moberi Dental Specialists are all trained in calming techniques and patient practices that help you feel confident and relaxed while you get the dental care you need to keep your mouth, teeth, and gums healthy.
The specialists at Moberi also use state-of-the-art equipment to repair your teeth. Ultrasonic instruments and nickel-titanium rotary files work more efficiently with low risk for pain or injury. At Moberi, we do everything possible to make your procedure comfortable and pain-free.
If you have dental or oral pain, a cracked or broken tooth, or a dental emergency, contact the professionals at Moberi Dental Specialists. Book your appointment with the online scheduling form, or call our friendly office staff.
