Sedation Dentistry

Are you afraid of the dentist or does the thought of visiting the dentist fill you with anxiety or nervousness?  You aren’t alone!  Over 50% of people in the US have postponed visiting the dentist due to dental phobias or anxieties.

Wurzbach Parkway Family Dental practices sedation dentistry (often known as Relaxation Dentistry) to help patients relax during their dental procedure.  With sedation dentistry, patients experience a calm, anxiety-free and comfortable visit.  A majority of patients feel no discomfort during their treatment and have little to no memory of their dental visit.  An appointment that takes hours will fly by in minutes.

We recommend sedation dentistry for patients who:

• Have fear or anxiety when visiting the dentist
• Have lower pain thresholds or very sensitive teeth
• Have an overactive gag reflex
• Have complex treatments (dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, etc.)
• Have physical or mental challenges that makes it hard to sit still

How It Works

Sedation dentistry varies according to patient needs and the type of procedure being performed.  However, there are two main sedation types- oral sedation and intravenous sedation (IV).

Oral sedation – The dentist prescribes an anti-anxiety pill and the patient takes the pill one hour prior to the appointment.  Unlike intravenous sedation, the patient is drowsy but awake during the procedure.  However, the patient feels a blissful state of relaxation and doesn’t remember the procedure after his visit.

Intravenous sedation (IV) – An anti-anxiety liquid is administered directly into the patient’s arm or back of the hand.  Relaxation effects are instantaneous.  The patient is monitored throughout the procedure,

After Sedation

We require patients who are sedated during their procedure are driven home by a responsible party.   It is best to avoid activities such as driving for the remainder of the day until you are fully alert.