Fear and anxiety prevent between 9 and 15 percent of Americans from seeing the dentist. It is estimated that for 36 percent of the people who avoid going to the dentist regularly, fear is the main reason. Dental sedation can help patients that suffer from dental phobia by helping them to relax in an otherwise anxiety-producing environment. The office of James A. Vito, DMD, has been offering dental sedation since 1991. Under the care of a medical anesthesiologist, Dr. James A. Vito’s patients desiring sedation can undergo simple dental treatments or complex procedures with peace of mind.
There are several types of sedation available to patients who experience dental phobia. For minimal sedation, a patient receives nitrous oxide through a mask. A patient also can receive oral sedation, which could include medications like Valium or Halcion. Under this type of treatment, the patient is awake, but extremely drowsy. IV sedation delivers a sedative drug through a vein. With this method, the dentist and anesthesiologist can continually adjust the level of sedation as needed.
Prior to receiving sedation, patients should discuss their medical history and current medications with their dentist.
