Did you know that millions of people experience some level of dental anxiety when it comes to sitting in a dental chair to have work done in their mouths? If you are concerned about receiving treatment for advanced gum disease or need dental implants and you are among these brave folks, rest assured that our skilled periodontal team offers effective sedation dentistry options to make your time in the chair as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
This is important because seeing your periodontist is often vital for good oral health when you are struggling with gum disease.
Thanks to sedation dentistry, you can get the right medication to ease your anxiety. We can help you feel calm, relaxed and comfortable while you are being treated.
Sedation Options
- Oral sedation: Simply taking a prescribed pill around an hour prior to your appointment can help you feel calm and relaxed. This option is optimal for patients who have severe dental anxiety or a fear of needles.
- IV sedation: This sedation option is delivered intravenously and is ideal if you are having a complex treatment performed. The medication is carefully administered during your time in the chair so you are in a deeply relaxed state that blocks any feelings of dental anxiety or discomfort. Often patients sleep lightly during the procedure and don’t even remember much about their procedure.
- Local anesthetic: This numbing agent is typically administered to patients having dental fillings or root canals done. The anesthetic is simply applied directly to the area being worked on, helping ensure your comfort.
As you can see, there is no reason to experience any discomfort during your time in the chair when you can choose the right sedation method. Our periodontist doesn’t want anyone missing out on necessary periodontal treatments out of fear and anxiety, even when oral surgery is involved.
Who Benefits From Sedation
- Patients with a dental phobia
- Patients who are afraid of dental noise and smell
- Patients who have an overactive gag reflex
- Patients with sensitive teeth and gums
- Patients who can’t sit still for a long time during a long treatment
- Patients who are afraid of shots and needles
Our periodontal team is ready to help you get the care your smile needs. It is particularly important to avoid delaying needed periodontal care for the following issues:
- Bleeding whenever you brush or floss. Bleeding gums are the first sign of gum disease (gingivitis), and if you have unexplained bleeding when you eat, you might already have advanced gum disease.
- Gums that are red, swollen and tender. Untreated gingivitis leads to deep gum pockets that often lead to tooth loss!
- Persistent halitosis (bad breath). Bad-smelling breath that doesn’t dissipate is a sign of periodontal infection.
- Ultra-sensitive teeth. If hot or cold foods and beverages cause tooth pain from exposed tooth roots and gum recession, your smile needs periodontal treatment to prevent further damage.
- Loose adult teeth. Remember, your adult teeth are supposed to last you a lifetime! If you have trouble chewing, see a change in how your teeth are coming together or notice spaces between your teeth, you likely need periodontal intervention to prevent bone loss.
- Receding gums. When the gums pull away from the teeth, your teeth will appear “longer,” which is a sign of advanced periodontal disease.
Gum Graft
Getting a gum graft can restore lost gum tissue, which protect teeth, and make your smile look great again. If you have bone and tooth loss, a bone graft can build up vital jawbone levels to save a tooth or make way for a dental implant restoration.
Scaling and Root Planing
Also known as a “deep cleaning,” scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical procedure that clears out any accumulated oral bacteria and dental plaque and then smooths the rough surfaces of the affected tooth. This allows your gums to reattach to the damaged tooth while removing rough patches where bacteria tend to accumulate.
No matter what treatment you need to restore your gum health, we have sedation options to make your experience a calm, relaxing one. Before you know it, your gums can be restored for a healthier, more attractive smile!