Many Americans can’t remember when their last dental appointment was. According to the New York Post, that number was one in six. That’s dangerous, since, despite their best efforts, they may miss spots while brushing and flossing, which can lead to gum disease. The results can lead to more than just lost teeth. For example, bacteria can get into their bloodstream and cause conditions like diabetes and cancer. People might be afraid to go to the dentist, but there’s a solution; sedation dentistry. Here’s how it can help.

More Efficient Appointments

If you’re anxious, a dental appointment can seem to take forever. When you’re using sedation dentistry, your dentist will be able to work faster, since they won’t have to stop if you get nervous. The overall process takes longer with sedation dentistry, but you will be saved from the stress of worrying about pain or discomfort.

You Won’t Remember the Appointment

One common side effect of sedation dentistry is something called anterograde amnesia. You’ll know that you had a dental appointment and can respond to things like “Turn your head to the right”, you just won’t remember. That will prevent any anxiety from building up for your next appointment.

No Gag Reflex

A gag reflex is your body’s natural way of protecting yourself from choking and it happens when something touches a certain part of your mouth, which triggers the feeling that you’re about to gag or vomit. It’s one thing that can slow down a dental appointment by having to wait for this to subside. Since you’ll be under sedation, that won’t be a concern.

There are other benefits, including pain relief and lessened anxiety. We offer medication for simple procedures like a cleaning appointment and for more complex procedures like extractions and implant placement, we recommend IV sedation. We can help you decide what is best for you. Whatever your choice, you need to have someone drive you to and from the office, since your reflexes will be impaired as you recover from the sedation.

It’s important that you see your dentist once every six months. Sedation dentistry is a fantastic way to overcome your anxiety and ensure that you get clean teeth and healthy gums. That will give you a reason to really smile. Are you looking for a dentist in your area? We do teeth cleaning, dentures, and dental implants. Contact us today to make an appointment!