Dental anxiety got you down? Our team at Peninsula Family Dentistry understands that simply driving to the dentist can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! Our friendly and experienced professionals are here to make your visit as comfortable and easy as possible. We offer sedation dentistry options at our state-of-the-art Gig Harbor, Washington dental office so you can get the treatment you need without the stress.
It is important for your oral and physical health that dental anxiety doesn’t keep you from getting the oral health care you need. You’ll leave our office with a smile on your face knowing we kept you comfortable and took care of you – we guarantee it!
To make an appointment, call us at (253) 525-4050 today or use our Request an Appointment form.
Sedation Dentistry Types and Benefits
Sedation dentistry may be a great option for you if you’re one of those who break into a cold sweat just walking in.
Sedation dentistry is a relatively new field that uses medication to help people relax during their dental procedures. Dr. Duffy offers different types of sedation dentistry to help his patients feel safe and relaxed during their visits. And please know we make ourselves available to you to help talk through your fears, offer suggestions and assure you that we can keep you feeling comfortable.
If you have mild anxiety, he may recommend inhaled sedation, which involves breathing in nitrous oxide (laughing) gas through a mask placed over your nose. This type of sedation will help you to feel calm and relaxed, but you will be awake and able to respond to questions or follow our instructions.
For more moderate anxiety levels, Dr. Duffy may recommend oral conscious sedation, which involves taking a pill before your appointment. This type of sedation will help you to feel drowsy and relaxed, but you will still be awake and able to respond to questions or instructions. There is often an “amnesia effect,” so little of the appointment is remembered.
For patients with severe anxiety or undergoing a lengthy or complex procedure, Dr. Duffy may recommend intravenous (IV) sedation, administered through a small IV catheter placed in the arm. This type of sedation will make you feel very drowsy and relaxed, and while people may look like they are under general anesthesia, they are still able to breathe on their own and respond to questions or directions, so the sedation level is considerably safer. And you may not remember much of the procedure afterward. At this time, Dr. Duffy trusts an outside but local anesthesia team to provide IV sedation.
Whichever type of sedation dentistry is right for you, Dr. Duffy will work closely with you to help ensure that you have a comfortable and relaxing experience.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry in Gig Harbor
While Dr. Duffy and our team at Peninsula Family Dentistry pride ourselves in our calming demeanor, attentiveness to your needs, and very gentle touch, you may still need a little extra help. You’ll be less likely to experience feelings of anxiety and fear while under sedation. Many people associate dental procedures with pain due to past experiences, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Our number one priority is to provide you with a pain-free experience whenever possible. However, sedation dentistry can assist in reducing pain. And please know we will also administer a local anesthetic to keep you physically comfortable. And not feeling pain will make it easier for you to get the dental care you need.
Sedation dentistry can also help reduce gag reflexes. For some people, the gag reflex is so strong that it makes it difficult or impossible to have dental work done. When you’re under sedation, your gag reflex will be reduced, making it easier for you to get in and out of the chair more quickly and without the worry of gagging.
Gig Harbor Sedation Dentistry
If you would like to learn more about sedation dentistry before your next appointment, we would love to answer your questions about what would be right for you. We want to help you change your outlook from utter dread to becoming satisfied that you’re caring for your oral health with a smile on your face!
To make an appointment, call us at (253) 525-4050 today or use our Request an Appointment form.
