Going to the dentist tends to make many people nervous. We understand. There are terms you may be unfamiliar with or tools you have never seen. There could be procedures we recommend that sound scary. Visiting your Gary, IN, dentist should never be a frightening experience, though. To help you stay relaxed and comfortable during your visit, we offer sedation dentistry options. We want your appointments with us to be a pleasant experience, so let us review what is available to help you achieve a calm state.

The Sedation That Makes You Laugh

Nitrous oxide is one of the most employed and safest sedation options that dentists use to help their patients relax. It is often referred to as “laughing gas” because it may cause you to giggle while you are on it. If you select this option, we will administer it through a mask that goes over your nose so that you can breathe it in. You exhale it through your mouth. The gas is a mild sedation, but it is potent. Patients often experience either deeply relaxed states or they may fall asleep. You should be able to drive back home or to work yourself after your appointment because the gas leaves your system quickly.  

The Sedation You Take Before Your Visit

If you are someone who feels higher levels of anxiety when visiting the dentist, an oral conscious sedation option may be what is recommended. For this method, you will take it either as a liquid or a pill a few hours before arriving for your appointment. That way, your body has time to digest it so that it works completely by the beginning of your examination or procedure. An oral sedation’s effects stay longer in your system, and you may feel groggy. Because of this, you will want to plan for someone to take you home after your treatment.

Using Local Anesthesia

There will be times when we use local anesthesia to help minimize pain for a more comfortable procedure for a patient. Before applying it, we will numb the area needing to be treated with a topical application. We most often do this when we are treating patients with cavities or gum disease or fitting them with a dental crown. 

Maintaining Your Oral Health

Preventative measures, like twice-daily brushing and once-daily flossing, will help you maintain your dental health. Couple that with regular visits to your dentist for checkups and cleanings, and you will be showing off your healthy smile all year long. 

Schedule An Appointment With Us Today 

Visiting the dentist should be a relaxing and pleasant experience. If you find yourself nervous when seeing us, we can help with sedation options. To find out more, or to schedule your appointment, call Healthy Smiles in Gary, IN, today at 219-938-2637.