Dental treatments are not so much a walk in the park for millions of Americans. If they developed a dental phobia as a result of a poor experience with a previous dentist, especially at a young age, it can make it even more difficult to receive necessary dental care. Fromuth & Langlois Dental wants all of our patients to feel comfortable during treatment, which is why we offer multiple solutions to help ease tension, anxiety, and fear while at the dental office. If you or a family member struggles to get care, feel free to give us a call and learn more about sedation dentistry!
For patients with severe dental anxiety, or those who are in need of an extensive procedure, our office can provide both IV sedation and general anesthesia. For IV sedation, the sedative is administered directly into the bloodstream, helping the patient become extremely relaxed very quickly. And with general anesthesia, the patient literally sleeps through the entire treatment. We use a much lighter form of general anesthesia compared to major surgery, so the patient will be able to wake up much more quickly afterward.
To ensure the safety and effectiveness of these methods, they will be provided by Greg Aprilliano, a nurse anesthetist with over 20 years of experience. He received his nursing degree from the University of Vermont and his anesthesia degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. While there, he earned the Agatha Hodgins Award for Clinical and Academic Excellence. Thanks to him, our sedation patients and their families can breathe easy and feel comfortable throughout the treatment process.
Those with moderate levels of dental fear or anxiety can expect significant benefits from oral conscious sedation. This sedative is taken in the form of a pill several hours before treatment, giving it enough time for the effects to occur. By the time your dental appointment is ready to start, you should feel incredibly relaxed and prepared to receive care. Keep in mind that you’ll still be awake for treatment, allowing you to inform the dentist about your comfort levels. Furthermore, because of the strength of the sedative, you’ll need to have a friend or family member drive you to and from the dental office.
Learn More About Oral Conscious Sedation
If you have more mild levels of anxiety or fear, nitrous oxide sedation is a fantastic option to make receiving dental care easier. This sedative is a combination of both oxygen and nitrous which is breathed through a nasal mask throughout your treatment. Once you arrive at the dental office, we can administer the gas right away. We can also adjust the level of sedative you receive as needed. You’ll be able to speak with the dentist about your needs during your treatment as well. Once your appointment is complete, we can easily remove the effects of the sedative as quickly as we provided them, meaning you can continue your normal activities without interruption.
If you get nervous at the thought of going to the dentist, then you may benefit from our sedation techniques. These treatments allow you to completely relax in the treatment chair, making it much easier to get the care your smile needs. However, you may still have a few questions you need answered before you can schedule an appointment with your sedation dentist. That’s why we’ve included the answers to a few frequently asked questions about sedation dentistry below.
While dental sedation is most commonly used for patients with significant dental anxiety or phobia, we may also recommend it in other situations. We have found that sedation can benefit patients who have:
Yes. When administered by a trained professional like Dr. Fromuth or Dr. Langlois, sedation dentistry is perfectly safe for patients of all ages.
Prior to your undergoing sedation, we will discuss your medical history and current medications. Certain health conditions, such as pregnancy, may complicate or make you ineligible for one or both types of sedation. By going over this information, as well as closely monitoring your vitals during your procedure, you should be perfectly safe while you’re under our care.
It depends on the type of sedation you receive. One of the main advantages of nitrous oxide is that once we stop administering the gas, its effects will subside as quickly as they set in. Within a few minutes, you should be able to drive yourself home and carry on with your normal day.
Oral conscious sedation acts differently. If you have ever taken sedatives before, you can usually expect a similar experience using our prescribed oral sedation. For most patients, the effects of the pill will last for the next 12 to 24 hours. Plan on spending the remainder of the day after your procedure resting. You’ll also need someone to drive you to and from our office.
Very few patients remember many details of their procedure if they choose to be sedated. Time may also seem to pass by much more quickly than normal. An hour-long procedure might feel like it only took five minutes. For these reasons, dental sedation is perfect for patients who have had negative dental experiences in the past; to them, it will seem as though they got their treatment done in the blink of an eye!