Sedation Dentistry Portland OR
Hunter Dental Care is dedicated to providing a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for our patients, and one of the main ways we do so is by providing sedation dentistry. This is huge for people who find themselves struggling with dental phobias or anxiety, which can lead them to put off important procedures due to fear or unease. Sedation dentistry allows us to take away some of that concern and allows you to relax and get your procedures done in peace. If you think that sedation dentistry is a good way to undergo your dental procedures, give us a call today and see what we can do to help you. Why Might Sedation Dentistry be Important?
We have found over the years that many people find themselves at odds with visiting their dentist. Whether they have developed a natural fear or have had a traumatic experience with a dentist in the past, they may find themselves avoiding our office at any cost, even if it means settling to live with oral pain rather than getting the proper help. This can cause many problems, not only orally but throughout their entire body as well. Sedation dentistry is a great option because it allows those patients to be at ease in the chair with the use of nitrous oxide, a chemical inhalant. It gives them options to feel at ease and to get necessary procedures done, both efficiently and effectively.
What does Nitrous Oxide do?
Nitrous oxide is more commonly known as “laughing gas.” This gas is pumped into a small mask that stays over your nose as our dentist works in your mouth. This is a numbing and relaxing alternative to regular dentistry that allows our patients to be calm and at ease in our care. Some patients report a tingling feeling in their arms and legs while others report a heaviness throughout their body.
Nitrous oxide does not allow you to sleep or under any kind of heavy fog that a different anesthetic may. This option allows you to hear, see, and understand what is going on around you and lets you respond to anything our dentist may say to you or ask you. You are simply in a calmer state that lets the fear or anxieties subside. This is a great option that allows our patients to be more comfortable when they come into our offices and also allows us to get more done in one sitting than may otherwise be possible with a restless or anxious patient.
We would like to reassure you that you are in great and capable hands but this does not mean much if you suffer from a dental phobia. Our only goal from this point on is to make you are comfortable as possible, and nitrous oxide is a great way for us to do just that. If you think that nitrous oxide is a good idea for you, talk about it with one of our specialists next time you come in!
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation is one of a few different kinds of conscious sedation that we offer to our patients here at Hunter Dental Care. An oral sedative refers to a variety of sedative medications that we administer to you, usually via a pill, sometime before the procedure begins. We administer it before the procedure begins to ensure that it takes effect slightly before the procedure starts. Some of the more frequently used oral sedation options are:
| • | Valium |
| • | Halcion |
| • | Sonata |
| • | Vistaril |
| • | Ativan |
| • | Versed |
The idea behind oral sedation is to give you a more relaxed experience where you won’t feel any nerves about the procedure but will still be able to respond to requests and questions.
At Hunter Dental Care our goal is to build a strong relationship with our patients so that they know they can count on us for an enjoyable experience. Call us today at (503) 256-3737 to schedule your appointment.