How Does Sedation Dentistry Help Anxiety?

Feeling jittery about an upcoming dental appointment? Dental anxiety is incredibly common, and for some people, it can lead to delaying or avoiding care altogether. Unfortunately, putting off treatment can allow small issues to turn into bigger problems.

You don’t have to give up on the dental care you need, though. Sedation dentistry can help you feel calm, comfortable, and in control during your visit so that you can get the care you need.

Below, Dr. Niki Cochran explains how sedation dentistry helps with anxiety and what you can expect when you get sedation dentistry services here at CLE Smiles by Dr. Niki.

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses medication to help you relax during dental procedures. Depending on your needs and level of anxiety, different levels of sedation may be used, from mild relaxation to deeper sedation.

Typically, Dr. Niki prescribes a medication that you take on the day of your visit. The medication helps you relax. 

It isn’t intended to make you fall asleep (like general anesthesia), but you may feel sleepy. For this reason, you’ll need someone to bring you to and from your appointment. 

5 ways sedation dentistry helps with anxiety

As the name suggests, sedation dentistry helps you relax during your appointment, and it can combat anxiety in several ways:

1. It helps you feel calm  

Sedation dentistry often uses medications such as benzodiazepines, which calm your nervous system and help reduce feelings of fear, panic, or uneasiness. Many people describe feeling deeply relaxed, even if they were anxious before their appointment.

2. It reduces awareness of the procedure

With sedation, you may feel less aware of sounds, sensations, and even the sensation of time passing. 

This benefit can be particularly helpful for people triggered by dental sounds. Dental sounds, including the drill, are listed as the highest dental fear, followed by fear of pain. Out of the procedures themselves, oral surgery was the most feared, followed by restorative treatments.

In some cases, people remember very little of the procedure afterward, which can make future visits feel less intimidating.

3. It minimizes discomfort and gag reflex

Sedation can help reduce physical sensitivity, including discomfort and a strong gag reflex. This allows Dr. Niki to work more efficiently while you remain comfortable.

4. It makes longer treatments feel shorter

If you need more extensive dental work, sedation can make the experience feel much quicker. You may be surprised by how fast your appointment seems to go, even if you had multiple restorative treatments done at once.

5. It helps you stay consistent with dental care

When anxiety is no longer a barrier, it becomes easier to keep up with routine visits and recommended treatments. This can help you avoid long-term complications of untreated dental issues, such as gum disease or tooth loss.

How to get started with sedation dentistry

Before your procedure, Dr. Niki reviews your medical history, discusses your concerns, and recommends the most appropriate sedation option.

If sedation is right for you, Dr. Niki gives you instructions for when to take your medication. Throughout your visit, our team carefully monitors you at every step.

Relieve the stress from your next appointment

There’s no reason to avoid the dentist because of anxiety. Sedation dentistry can give you the care you need.

Call our Lakeland, Ohio, office at 216-616-1385 or click here to schedule an appointment.