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Sedation Dentistry
Suffer from fear of the dentist or dental anxiety? Haven’t been to the dentist in years? You’ve come to the right place.
Suffer from fear of the dentist or have dental anxiety? Haven’t been to the dentist in years? You’ve come to the right place.
Our goal at Leesburg Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is to eliminate fear of the dentist so that everyone will make routine dental care a part of their lives. Fear of the dentist or dental anxiety is common, and no one should be embarrassed about it. Dr. Whitman and her staff will not be offended if you admit you get anxious about dental visits. In fact, it is because we know how common dental anxiety is that we offer a solution.
Sedation dentistry helps our patients relax during their treatment, and includes different levels of sedation.
General anesthesia that puts you to sleep is reserved for dental surgery, extractions and other complex procedures. Sedation is milder. It calms you and can reduce physical discomfort, but it allows you to remain awake during a procedure. Sedation can make a tremendous difference for someone who gets nervous even during simple procedures or short office visits.
“I was terrified of going to the dentist for even an exam. I had called a few different dentists and none of them were as helpful as Dr. Whitman’s practice when answering my questions. Dr. Whitman helped me every step of the way through my appointment and I’m so grateful.”
— Clara, Leesburg, VA
Clara had experienced dental anxiety ever since she was a child, and as an adult, she had never been able to visit the dentist without a great deal of apprehension on her part. “I eventually got so sick with worry about my appointments that I stopped going,” Clara says.
After nearly a decade of avoiding the dentist, Clara knew it was time to try again. She had heard about sedation dentistry and called different practices to find out more about their services. “There was no question that Leesburg Family & Cosmetic Dentistry was the right choice for me. They were sensitive to my fears and explained everything so that there was never any wondering what was going to happen or why.”
Her exam with Dr. Whitman went smoothly, and after having only one cavity filled at a follow-up appointment, Clara says she feels less anxious about coming back for her next appointment. “It was an all-around good experience!”
The most common type of sedation used in dentistry is nitrous oxide, known casually as laughing gas. Nitrous oxide is breathed in through the nose, and Dr. Whitman continuously monitors the dosage throughout a procedure. The best thing about nitrous oxide is that it wears off quickly. When nitrous oxide is your choice for sedation dentistry, you will usually not need someone to drive you home after your appointment. Other types of dental sedation include oral medications and intravenous medications. Sometimes two types may be combined.
The type of sedation you use can be decided on between you and Dr. Whitman and will depend on the procedure you are to have, your personal desire for sedation and your health.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Here some of the most frequently asked questions people have about sedation dentistry:
Can I just be put to sleep for all of my dental procedures?
For most procedures, you need to be awake and alert to answer questions. Nitrous
oxide works very well at putting you in a very relaxed state while still allowing you
to be awake. It also wears off quickly, but using general anesthesia would require
recovery time before you could leave the office.
Do I need to check with my doctor before having a sedation dentistry service?
If you taken any prescription medications or have health conditions, then yes, you should check with your medical doctor first. In some cases, we may need to get clearance from your doctor before we can administer any form of sedative.
Can I have a mild sedative just for a checkup or X-rays?
Yes you can. We offer sedation dentistry for these services because we want every patient to be as comfortable as possible every time they visit our office.
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