Sedation Dentistry Can Help Ease Your Anxiety

If you are nervous about visiting the dentist, or you have a health condition such as Parkinson’s disease or cerebral palsy that makes it difficult to sit for long periods of time, various methods of sedation can help put you at ease during a dental procedure. Sedation dentistry at our Staten Island, NY, practice can help patients who struggle with dental anxiety or phobia have a comfortable, relaxing dental experience. At Joseph T. Mormino, DDS, we provide both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation to help relieve any anxiety you may experience. By providing these options, we hope that patients who may have been delaying treatment can get the relief they deserve in a relaxing, stress-free environment. 

Why Choose Sedation Dentistry?

A woman smiles and relaxes in a dentist chairSedation is most often used to help patients relax during lengthy, complex dental procedures such as dental implant surgery. But it is also extremely beneficial for people who become stressed at the thought of dental treatment.

Approximately 30 to 40 million people in the United States avoid visiting the dentist each year due to dental anxiety and dental phobia. These conditions can range from a slight nervousness around needles to a debilitating fear of the dentist. Although the exact cause is different for each person, a previous traumatic dental experience is one of the more common causes.

By providing sedation options, we hope that patients who may have been delaying treatment can get the relief they deserve in a relaxing, stress-free environment.

These conditions can prevent people in need of dental care from ever visiting the dentist, even though they may be in extreme pain. However, when dental issues are left untreated, they can lead to tooth loss, chronic bad breath, low self-esteem, gum disease, and even more serious health conditions.

You may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry if you:

  • Have dental sensitivity
  • Struggle with local anesthetic providing an acceptable level of numbness
  • Have a fear of needles or sensitive gag reflex
  • Are undergoing a lengthy or complex dental procedure
  • Have difficulty sitting still or relaxing in the dental chair

Types of Sedation

Sedation can help you feel calm and relaxed throughout your entire procedure. In addition, Dr. Mormino can administer a local anesthetic to numb the area being treated for optimal comfort. At Joseph T. Mormino, DDS, we provide two different types of sedation for our patients:

Nitrous Oxide

Also known as laughing gas, this type of sedation is combined with oxygen and administered through a nose mask to help you relax throughout your treatment. You will remain conscious, but you will be in a sleep-like state. The doctor will be able to communicate with you throughout the treatment, but most patients have little or no memory of the procedure afterward. The effects of sedation will wear off once the mask is removed, so you will be able to drive yourself home after treatment.

Oral Conscious Sedation

This type of sedation involves taking an anti-anxiety medication 30⎼60 minutes before the procedure. Similar to nitrous oxide, you will be drowsy and calm yet conscious and able to respond to commands. You will have little to no memory of the procedure once the treatment is complete. Nitrous oxide can also be combined oral conscious sedation, but because the after-effects of oral conscious sedation are longer-lasting, you will need to have someone available to drive you to and from the procedure.

Benefits of Sedation

Patients who undergo sedation are able to:

  • Receive essential restorative dental care while in a calm state
  • Relax during both simple and complex procedures
  • Receive convenient, stress-free, quality care
  • Sit comfortably in the dental chair for long periods of time

Most importantly, patients who receive sedation as part of a dental procedure can achieve good oral health by receiving treatment that they might otherwise have avoided.

Contact Us Today

If you are avoiding dental care because of fear or anxiety, we can provide sedation to create a comfortable dental experience. Call our office at (718) 571-8428 or contact us online to schedule your consultation with Dr. Mormino. 

Dr. Mormino and team

Dr. Joseph T. Mormino, DDS

Dr. Mormino is a member of several prestigious organizations:

  • American Dental Association
  • Second District Dental Association
  • International Congress of Oral Implantologist 
  • Academy of General Dentistry 

To schedule your consultation, contact us online or call us at (718) 876-9100 today!

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