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According to one study, between 50 to 80 percent of Americans have some degree of dental anxiety. Many people fear going to the dentist because of a fear of pain and unknown sensations they may experience while in the dentist’s chair. The reality is, dental offices are just like any other doctor’s office, just with slightly different tools. Not all dental procedures are painful, and even if you need to get a painful procedure, there are many options for pain relief that will make getting the procedure done a breeze.

A delay in getting dental care can be detrimental to your teeth and gums. Unnecessary anxiety regarding the dentist should be addressed with the help of your dentist. At Dr. Ernie Soto’s dental clinic, we provide dental care to our patients while keeping them in a relaxed and calm state with the help of sedation dentistry, or dental sedation. Let’s learn more about it.

How Can Dental Sedation Help You?

Sedation dentistry is a branch of dentistry that uses medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. Sedation dentistry is an excellent solution for those suffering from dental phobia or anxiety. Dental sedation can do the following:

Make you relaxed and cooperative. Dental sedation involves the use of medication that will make you very relaxed during your visit. Although you will remain awake, you will be able to be cooperative and readily accept the dentist’s assessment and treatment, as any anxiety or worry will disappear.

Helps control pain. Dental sedation can also eliminate any pain or discomfort you may feel during your procedure. Sedatives can be delivered through an intravenous line, which allows dentists to control the strength of the medication, making it a great alternative to general anesthesia as a form of pain management.

Allow the dentist to be more efficient with time. Dental sedation will generally shorten the length of time needed to complete your dental procedure, which is beneficial for both patients who value their time, as well as those with scheduling constraints. Additionally, it also enables the dentist to perform multiple dental treatments in one visit.

What Types of Dental Sedation Can Be Used?

There are many different types of dental sedation that can be used depending on the procedure and the patient. The most common type of dental sedation is nitrous oxide, which is a gas that is inhaled through a mask. Other types of dental sedation include oral sedatives, which are taken in pill form, and intravenous (IV) sedation, which is given through a vein in the arm.

Only specially trained dentists can provide IV sedation (also called sleep dentistry) to patients. This form of sedation is deeper and requires advanced training not just for the dentist but also for the staff. IV sedation is ideal for patients with severe dental phobia and keeps them in a state of semi-consciousness.

Determining which type of dental sedation a patient needs requires the expertise of a sedation dentist. The goal is to use as little sedation as possible while keeping the patient in a relaxed, painless state.

IV Dental Sedation in Plantation, FL

If you are looking for a sedation dentist who truly cares about making your visit as relaxing and comfortable as possible, choose Dr. Ernie Soto. Dr. Soto has years of experience using dental sedation and is one of the very few dentists in Florida certified in nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and anesthesia. Don’t let dental phobia prevent you from receiving much-needed dental services any longer. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Soto today. Call our dental office in Plantation at (954) 368-6264 or use our convenient online appointment request form.