Help! I’m Scared to Go to the Dentist

Do you start to feel anxious every time you make a dental appointment? Are you apprehensive with the idea of someone going near your mouth with dental tools? If these apply to you, sedation dentistry might be an option that can help lessen your anxiety about visiting the dentist.

Dr. AnnMarie Olson and her team at AnnMarie Olson DDS PA, work hard to make sure our patients are as comfortable and at ease when going through a dental procedure. We offer sedation dentistry to help ease anxious feelings and make the experience more pleasant.

If you’d like to learn more about sedation dentistry, keep reading.

Sedation dentistry is a way to calm your nerves

Some people think sedation dentistry is only necessary if you’re having a serious dental procedure. But the truth is, sedation dentistry can work for anything; from a small procedure to a more intensive one. Here are three types of sedation dentistry:

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide is one of the best options for those who have dental-related anxiety or general anxiety that manifests during a dental visit. The gas relaxes a person during their procedure, but it wears off faster than other options. This means you should be able to drive yourself to and from the appointment, while still avoiding anxious reactions during your procedure.

Oral-conscious sedation

Certain sedatives can be administered either orally or intravenously to provide you with a more relaxed, calm feeling. Oral sedatives, for example, usually come in some form of benzodiazepine pill that you’ll take an hour or so before the procedure.

You’ll probably need someone else to drive you, but you’ll be awake during the procedure. You won’t feel anxious, but you might start to experience fatigue or sleepiness until the drug passes through your system.

Intravenous sedatives start working quicker than oral sedatives, and your dentist can adjust the amount of sedation you receive. You’ll still need someone to drive you home afterward, but you’ll be awake during the procedure.

IV sedation

The final option is IV sedation. Dr. Olson partners with local dental anesthesiologists who administer dental sedation intravenously. While this form of sedation doesn’t pull you completely asleep, it does make you feel very relaxed so you’re not aware of the procedure.

How do I know what I need?

To determine what type of sedation dentistry is best for your needs, visit our office and talk to Dr. Olson. If you’re comfortable enough, make sure she knows the severity of your dental anxiety and where it comes from. Then, let her know if you have any allergies or other issues that might rule out one type of sedation or another.

There’s no reason you should be too afraid to go to the dentist when there are many options available to make the procedure less uncomfortable, less painful, and generally less distressing.

We’re here to help and heal

Everyone deserves to have clean, healthy teeth without any feelings of fear and discomfort. Contact our office at 512-212-5231 so we can make it happen!