Sedation Dentistry

Do you avoid the dentist due to anxiety? You’re not alone. According to a study published in the Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 10-20% of adults have severe dental anxiety. Around 15% of adults avoid dental care due to this phobia.

If you’re one of the many who suffers from dental anxiety, sedation dentistry may be the perfect solution. It will help you stay relaxed while getting the dental attention you need.

To learn more about this form of dentistry, contact Dr. Hecht at Staten Island Aesthetic & Implant Dentist in Staten Island, NY…

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Relief of Anxiety

The most common reason that people opt for sedation dentistry is to overcome dental phobia. If you dislike needles, dental drills, the feeling of scraping on your teeth, or any other part of a dental visit, you may benefit from sedation dentistry.

Help Sitting Still

Patients need to stay relatively still while undergoing dental care. Some patients have trouble doing so. This may be due to restless leg syndrome, ADHD, ALS, or a number of other conditions.

Comfort

Let’s face it – sitting still in a dental chair through a whole procedure may not be comfortable. If you are prone to pain or discomfort while sitting or lying down for a long time, dental sedation can make you more comfortable.

Getting Around Strong Gag Reflex

Some people have a stronger gag reflex than others. Dental sedation reduces feeling in the mouth and throat, so these patients can avoid gagging, feeling nauseous, and throwing up while receiving dental work.

Avoiding Pain with Sensitive Teeth

Certain patients have very sensitive teeth, which can make dental work especially uncomfortable. Sedatives will numb the nerves in the teeth so that these patients are more comfortable receiving dentistry.

Candidacy for Sedation

To undergo dental treatment while sedated, you must be in good health. In addition, patients cannot receive dental sedatives while pregnant. This could put a mother and her fetus at risk.

Finally, a patient cannot undergo sedation dentistry if he or she has had a bad reaction to any type of anesthetic in the past. If you have had complications with sedatives in the past, it’s vital that you inform your dentist before discussing sedation dentistry.

How do I Choose a Sedation Dentist?

Dr.s Alex and Jason Hecht have over 35 years of experience practicing cosmetic and restorative dentistry. We have worked with dental sedation for many years, and we only use state-of-the-art dental equipment for our procedures. Whether you need a tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, dental implant, or another dental procedure performed, rest assured that you’re in good hands when you choose our doctors to perform your dental procedure.

Since we’re a father and son team, you can trust that we’re extremely family oriented. We’re the best choice when looking for a gentle, relaxed dental experience for both yourself and your children. At Staten Island Aesthetic and Implant Dentist, your family is our family. 

Contact Staten Island Aesthetic & Implant Dentist

Does the idea of dental treatment make you anxious? Sedation dentistry can help you feel calm and relaxed. If you want to receive dental work with less anxiety, contact our Staten Island, NY dental team to learn more about sedation dentistry. 

Our doctors and the rest of our team will make sure that your dental visit is as stress-free as possible. Contact us by filling out our form online or by calling 718-715-4434.

Types of Sedation Available at Our Staten Island Dental Practice

Dr. Hecht can administer a couple of different kinds of sedation before performing dental work. Before your procedure, he will discuss the different types with you and determine which is best for your specific needs. The types of dental sedation we use are:

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is a form of conscious sedation. You’ll be awake throughout the procedure, but the sedatives will remove your unease. You may not even remember the procedure afterwards.

This type of sedation makes use of oral medications. You may take one or more pills depending on your weight, the length of the procedure, and other factors. Oral sedatives are usually the go-to for longer procedures since there’s a limit to how long nitrous can be administered for. It’s important to note that you’ll need someone to drive you home after the procedure is complete, since it will not be safe for you to do so.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is another means of administering conscious sedation. Also known as “laughing gas,” nitrous helps patients drift into a state of deep relaxation while undergoing dental work. This sedative relieves dental phobia while providing a feeling of euphoria (which is what can prompt the laughing).

Nitrous oxide is administered through inhalation and may be used on both children and adults. This type of sedation usually wears off quickly, so you may be able to drive yourself home afterwards.

Risk Factors

Anesthetics and sedatives always carry a certain amount of risk. Patients who have never had oral sedatives, nitrous oxide, or IV sedation may not realize they are allergic to them until undergoing sedation dentistry. In addition, even if you’re in the hands of a highly skilled dentist, there are complications which could arise. The risk of complications is higher for patients with conditions such as obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.

Patients who are prone to serotonin syndrome may have a bad reaction to nitrous oxide. It’s important to inform your dentist if you’ve ever experienced this condition before.

Before going through with sedation dentistry, our dentist will go over your medical history and discuss the risks with you. Together, you can determine whether to go through a dental procedure while under conscious sedation or IV sedation.

Cost of the Dental Procedure

The cost of sedation at our Staten Island, NY office depends on the type of anesthetic used and the length of the procedure. Light sedation with nitrous oxide will generally be about $25. If general anesthesia is used, the price will be upwards of $1,000.