Sedation Dentistry - Glendale, AZ

Anxiety-Free Dentistry at glendale dental smiles

a long hallway with a tv on the wall

Dental Sedation at Glendale Dental Smiles

Creating positive experiences for patients is essential to Dr. Richard Feldhake for achieving lasting oral health and wellness. When he was starting out as a young dentist, Dr. Feldhake realized that many people get anxious during visits to the dentist. To make sure his patients felt comfortable, he made it his goal to provide them with a relaxing experience instead. In the 34 years since then, Dr. Feldhake has become adept at administering various types of sedation dentistry.

sedation dentistry patient
Relaxed patient receiving sedation at Glendale Dental Smiles

You no longer have to let your dental anxieties and phobias stop you from receiving even a routine cleaning. At Glendale Dental Smiles, Dr. Feldhake offers sedation options to help patients remain calm throughout their visit.

Who can Sedation Dentistry help?

While dental anxiety is common, it's not the only reason why we offer sedation dentistry. This form of treatment is also available children, special needs patients, and medically compromised patients who may have a tough time staying still.

How Sedation Dentistry Can Help You

Affecting countless patients throughout the country, dental phobias are often developed as a result of past poor dental visits. While mild cases can make patients feel uncomfortable visiting the dentist, more serious instances of dental phobia cause patients to avoid the dentist at all costs.

Without these regular preventive cleanings, patients with dental anxiety are at a higher risk of developing serious problems such as tooth abscesses and gum disease. Furthermore, advanced restorative treatments needed to treat damaged tissue and restore oral health can often reinforce patients’ existing dental fears.

For these individuals, dental sedation allows patients to feel relaxed before and during their upcoming visit to our dental practice in Glendale. Available in several different forms, sedation provides a number of advantages to patients using this treatment to improve their appointment. These benefits include:

Shorter Appointments:

Many patients feel as if their visits are shorter than they actually are while in a state of relaxation.

Get More Done In One Appointment:

Dr. Feldhake is often able to administer multiple treatments in a single sitting by using different doses of sedation, which makes patients feel as though they are asleep. This eliminates the need for patients to come in multiple times, making sedation an ideal option for those considering more extensive treatments such as smile makeovers and dental implants.

Many Uses:

If you're seeking a dental practice that utilizes sedation for its patients, look no further than Glendale Dental Smiles. The safety of our patients is always our top priority, and we only work with those who meet our high standards of care. Sedation can be applied to any type of dental treatment at our office - from cleanings to more major procedures - so you can feel confident and comfortable throughout your appointment.

Types of Sedation Dentistry Glendale Dental Smiles Offers:

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, which is often colloquially referred to as “laughing gas,” has a long history of being used as a sedative due to its relatively mild effects. Administered through a nose hood and delivered throughout the entire procedure, nitrous oxide can create feelings of euphoria, reduce pain perception, and make appointments pass by in the blink of an eye!

Oral Sedation:

Administered orally, sedatives in the form of pills can be used to help patients relax throughout their appointment. Depending on the dose administered, this type of medication can create a light level of sedation or even put the patient into a deeper sleep. The effects usually wear off within a few hours and require the patient to have someone available to drive them to and from their appointment. Oral sedatives are a great option for patients with severe dental anxiety or phobia, as they can help to alleviate feelings of panic and stress. They can also be helpful for patients who have a strong gag reflex or are undergoing longer or more complex procedures. At Scottsdale Perfect Smiles, we offer a range of oral sedatives to help our patients feel relaxed and comfortable during their visits.

What types of drugs are used in oral conscious sedation?

Drugs dentists typically use for sedation purposes fall under the benzodiazepine classification. Benzodiazepines as a whole serve to relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, insomnia and seizures. Because each medication has a different half-life--in other words, how long its effects last--the estimated length of procedure is what determines which type of drug will work best.

IV Sedation

Intravenous sedation, often called twilight sedation, is a moderate type of sedation. Patients usually report that they feel like they slept through the entire procedure. IV Sedatives are administered via direct injection into the bloodstream, which means their effects are immediate. However, sometimes patients can feel groggy when the IV sedatives start to wear off . This is why it's important to have a designated driver for the ride home following your appointment.

How IV Sedation Can Help You With Your Dental Care

At our office, we offer IV sedation for patients who want to be asleep during their dental procedure. This service is provided by Dr. Feldhake and a team of anesthesiologists and medical doctors. You will not remember anything about the procedure and it will feel like a very quick visit!

The medication will be injected into your vein, and you will stay awake and breathing unaided throughout the procedure. You'll be connected to monitors throughout treatment so that we can closely monitor your vitals for safety purposes. After you have achieved the level of sedation that you desire, we will start treatment. You should plan for someone to drive you home after your IV sedation, as the medication's effects will leave you feeling groggy for a few hours afterward.

Our number one priority is your safety, which is why we require consent forms and that patients fast for eight hours prior to receiving sedation. We also ask that you have a friend or family member drive you to and from your appointment. An anesthesiologist will monitor your vitals during care to ensure continued safety. Once treatment is complete, patients can return home and rest until the effects of the medication wear off.

All of the sedation options mentioned above are available at our Glendale Dental Practice. At Glendale Dental Smiles, we recognize that every patient has their own unique needs. To learn more about improving your next dental visit with sedation dentistry, contact our Glendale dental practice today.

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