Dental Anxiety & Sedation Dentistry

Relax at 21st Century Dentistry

Feeling anxious about your next dental visit? Sedation dentistry can help you!

Dental anxiety is a very common problem. Even people who work at dental offices can get nervous about undergoing dental treatment.

Tracylynn is a 21st Century Dentistry team member who can tell you firsthand about her experience with overcoming dental anxiety. She discovered that using nitrous oxide while undergoing dental treatment makes a world of a difference. Knowing that, she is no longer hesitant about making the change from being a dental assistant to a dental patient.

We understand that many people struggle with dental anxiety, so we take the necessary time to review all treatment planned beforehand. We want you to know exactly what to expect and that you will be well taken care of by our experienced team. Beyond that we strive to create a calming and comforting atmosphere in our office, including blankets, TVs in the treatment rooms, sunglasses, and a variety of music. We also invite you to bring headphones if you prefer to use your own phone or tablet during treatment.

FACT: Almost 40% of the population have dental anxiety

Nitrous Oxide

One method of sedation commonly utilized in our office is nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas. This option helps relieve anxiety and is a great choice for both children and adults.

You simply breathe in the nitrous oxide gas through a nosepiece prior to beginning treatment, and you continue breathing in the gas throughout your procedure. This helps relieve anxiety and gives you a calm, euphoric feeling. When we have completed the necessary treatment, we then have you breathe in oxygen for about 5 minutes through the same nosepiece to completely reverse the effects. Nitrous oxide is very effective, safe to use, and is the only method of sedation that does not require someone else to transport you to and from your appointment.

Sedation at 21st century dentistry

Before administering any sedation, it is critical to review your health history. We carefully screen all sedation patients at 21st Century Dentistry, because your health and safety come first. After determining whether you are a good candidate for sedation dentistry, we will go over the process and answer any questions you may have.

We utilize the most advanced patient monitoring equipment available throughout your procedure regardless of the method or level of sedation. Our monitoring consists of ECG, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, and capnography.

We want everyone to have a positive experience in our office, and managing varying levels of dental anxiety is an important part of that. We can discuss the specifics of your dental anxiety with you to learn how we can best provide you with a great overall experience. If you have any questions about sedation dentistry or are interested in learning more, please call us today.