Nervous About Going to the Dentist? Sedation Dentistry Has You Covered

If an upcoming dental visit has you worried, you’re far from alone. Up to 20% of people in the US, or one in every five, experience some amount of dental anxiety. Thankfully, there’s a lot you can do to ease your nerves while getting the care you need. Sedation dentistry is a leading option. 

Our experienced team at Swinney Dental in Tyler, Texas, is pleased to provide nitrous oxide sedation to help you feel more comfortable during dental work. You can even stop by our office for a five-minute trial, to make sure it suits you. Read on to learn more about this form of sedation dentistry and ways it might benefit you or a loved one.

Dental anxiety basics

While dental anxiety affects people differently, there are common themes. Your own worries may include one or more of these common issues:

• Discomfort around the loss of personal space
• Embarrassment 
• Fear of pain or injections
• Feeling helpless or lost for control
• Concerns that numbing agents won’t work
• Fear of anesthesia side effects

In especially severe cases, known as dental phobia, you may find it virtually impossible to see a dentist unless you have a very serious condition in need of treatment. While dental phobia may require more intense care, such as support from a psychiatrist, many people find that sedation dentistry alone makes the process of booking and receiving routine dental care much easier. 

How nitrous oxide sedation works

When you opt for nitrous oxide sedation, you’ll receive a blend of gas mixed with oxygen that you breathe in through a mask. Within minutes of breathing this mixture in, you’ll start to feel calmer and a bit light-headed. You may also notice that your arms and legs feel especially relaxed, or even heavy. 

Nitrous oxide sedation won’t force you to fall asleep, although you might find yourself drifting off from deep relaxation. And after your procedure, once the mixture wears off, you probably won’t remember much, if anything, about it.

Additional benefits of nitrous oxide sedation dentistry include:

• Greater relaxation leading up to procedures
• Quick recovery time, with normal breathing and alertness returning within minutes
• No heart or lung side effects
• No risk of long-term side effects
• A pleasant scent during treatment

The first step in addressing dental anxiety is discussing your concerns and symptoms with your dentist, who may recommend nitrous oxide sedation. 

To learn more about sedation dentistry or get started with the care you or a loved one needs, call Swinney Dental to schedule an appointment with Dr. Chip Swinney or Dr. Kayla Morton. You can also use our convenient online booking feature on this website.