Overcome your fear of dentistry!
Are you someone who is anxious or fearful about dental treatment and even worries about it all the time? When you are afraid, your threshold for pain is much lower, you become hypersensitive to every sensation, prick, and noise. Fear and anxiety trigger the release of certain chemicals like adrenalin which put your “fight or flight” instincts on high alert. You anticipate that something is going to hurt and so you tense your muscles, even if it is subconsciously. In this heightened state of anxiety you experience more pain during and even after treatment.
However, this response can be virtually eliminated with oral sedation dentistry!
The whole purpose of oral sedation dentistry is to make you as comfortable and relaxed as possible. It allows you to let your guard down, relax both your mind and body, and focus on feeling peaceful rather than anxious. Your apprehension and hypersensitivity to pain melt away, yet you remain awake and in control.
Oral sedation dentistry allows Dr. Natalie Jackson to create a safe and comfortable dental experience for patients who have avoided the dentist out of fear or who might have time restrictions. Sometimes referred to as ‘relaxation’, ‘sleep’ or ‘anxiety free’ dentistry, this comfortable care has been safely offered by thousands of trained dentists throughout the United States.
How does oral sedation dentistry work?
Dr. Natalie Jackson has trained to implement oral sedation and effectively help her patients become as comfortable and relaxed as possible using well established and proven protocols with a variety of sedation medications administered orally and sublingually (under the tongue). These protocols can be customized for the patient’s individual emotional and physical needs.
Once you and Dr. Jackson decide to use oral sedation for your next appointment, you will need to make some preparations:
- Your health history can affect your before-and-aftercare plans (especially for diabetics and smokers), so make sure Dr. Jackson knows about any medical conditions you may have.
- You should not eat or drink anything six hours prior to your appointment unless directed otherwise by Dr. Jackson.
- Be prepared to take time off from work following your appointment. For short appointments, only half a day may be necessary. If a longer appointment is planned, make arrangements to take the remainder of the day off.
- You will need a companion to drive you to and from your appointment. You should not drive or operate heavy machinery until the medication has worn off, and this will vary depending upon what drug was administered along with your individual metabolism.
- Be sure to stay hydrated and drink lots of fluids following your appointment.
How can oral sedation dentistry help me?
Experience dentistry in a whole new way
Hours go by in minutes, as you enter a restful state and experience oral sedation dentistry. Restoring your smile, enhancing your confidence – it all becomes possible for the fearful patient through the modern miracle of oral sedation dentistry!
One less needle to worry about
For many people, needles are one of the scariest parts of dentistry – no one likes shots! So, our patients are happy to know that they can benefit from sedation dentistry with oral medication instead of relying on an intravenous (IV) needle.
Save time and money
Many of our services cater to the fact that our patients lead very busy lives. Every appointment saved is an opportunity to take less time off from work, take care of other errands or (gasp!) relax. Oral sedation dentistry allows you to receive more treatment than you would otherwise be able to comfortably tolerate during one visit, thus saving you one or more return visits to “the dentist”.
Stay in control of your dental experience
While under the effects of oral sedation, you remain in a “semi-awake” state where you can still respond to verbal communication and physical stimuli. We respect our patient’s perspective, and we make arrangements beforehand as to how you can let us know when you need a break.
Little to no memories of your procedure
Most patients report an amnesiac effect following their oral sedation sessions – and they’re happy for it! As much as we like to pamper our patients with gentle chairside manner and efficient treatment solutions, it’s still nice to be able to forget the sights, smells and sounds of the dental office.
Want to learn even more about oral sedation dentistry?
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