Sedation Dentistry
Dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons why people avoid necessary dental work. Levels of anxiety ranging from mild discomfort to severe phobias keep people from getting the procedures they need. Sedation dentistry is a modern alternative to traditional dentistry that, through the use of medication, can all but eliminate anxiety and allow Dr. Ryerson to perform multiple procedures in one sitting. What otherwise would be spread out over months and multiple visits can be consolidated efficiently.
For many, elective or cosmetic dental procedures can significantly improve one's self image and even drastically improve quality of life. However, a large portion of these patients let dental anxiety or time constraints come between them and their new smile. Sedation dentistry is, in our opinion, one of the simplest and most effective ways to solve common problems in traditional dentistry.
Some publications estimate that up to 75% of adults in the United States experience some level of dental anxiety. For many of these patients, a beautiful, stunning smile is one relaxing and anxiety-free visit away.
Sedation Dentistry is used at many dental offices, but that term can mean several things:
-
Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen alone
-
Benzodiazepines (i.e. Valium), Nitrous Oxide and/or Oxygen
-
Oral Conscious Sedation
-
Use of oral medication to relax/sedate
-
Slow onset and difficult to control and monitor
-
Differs from Benzodiazepines alone in that this method relaxes/sedates more deeply
-
IV Conscious Sedation
-
Requires very stringent, advanced training attained by very few dental offices in Alabama, but has the benefit of second to second control.
-
This type of sedation puts you in an extremely relaxed state where you won't remember the shot or any of the procedure (like when you get your wisdom teeth removed at the Oral Surgeon or an outpatient procedure at a Medical Clinic/Hospital).
-
You are not put to sleep but it's the next best thing!
