Relaxing Sedation Dentistry in Independence, KY

A Less Stressful Dental Experience

Do you suffer from anxiety around or outright fear of visiting the dentist’s chair? Does that worry make you avoid the dentist altogether? Well, now you can relax. Dr. Peter has various dental sedations care techniques to put you at ease. Feel relaxed during your visit at Peter Family and Cosmetic Dentistry with our sedation dentistry options in Independence, KY.

Our Dental Sedation Services Have Helped a Variety of Individuals

Dental sedation care can improve the experience of a variety of patients including people who

• Suffer from phobias of the dentist

• Have an aversion to the sights, smells, or sounds of doctors’ offices

• Have a feeling of dread or disdain of needles or dental instruments

• Suffer from TMJ

• Have sensitive teeth or gums

• Have a strong gag-reflex

Our Dental Sedation Services

Sedation dentistry comes in many forms, although most people probably think it means “sleep dentistry” or being “put to sleep.”  The more someone is sedated, the higher the medical risks are. For that reason, our sedation dentist, Dr. Peter, does not “put people to sleep.” However, we do offer several opportunities for our anxious patients that have been extremely successful and low risk. Peter Family and Cosmetic Dentistry offers the following sedation dentistry options to our patients in Independence, KY:

Local Anesthesia

This is a solution that numbs a small area of your mouth so your dental procedure can be free of pain. Most people think of a painful shot when they think ‘local anesthetic.’ However, a topical numbing gel can be applied with a cotton squab to numb the area where the shot of heavier anesthetic will be placed. This pleasant-tasting numbing agent helps take away the agony of the shot.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide, or ‘laughing gas’ as it is more commonly known, makes you feel giddy and relaxed – similar to having a few adult beverages. Fortunately, there’s no hangover and no recovery time. Most people will describe the sensation as feeling very relaxed and happy, like they are floating on a cloud.  Some people will laugh and talk a lot, while others are just relaxed and may doze off.  It also makes “time fly,” meaning longer appointments will feel much shorter.

The big advantages of laughing gas dentistry are that it does not interact adversely with other medications, almost anyone can have it, it’s inexpensive (about $48 a session), and you can drive or go to work afterwards. The effects of nitrous oxide last only while you are breathing in the gas and do not linger afterwards. Within minutes of removing the gas, you will be able to get up and drive home. Laughing gas does have a numbing effect, but our dentist will still use local anesthetics to ensure a pain-free experience 

Oral Sedation Dentistry

This method is as simple as swallowing a pill. Oral sedation dentistry doesn’t actually put you to sleep, but because of the level of relaxation you experience, you may fall asleep anyway – many people do. The valium pill is prescribed by our oral sedation dentist, Dr. Peter, but you will have to go to the pharmacy to get the medication. Our dentist takes the time to tailor the dosage to whatever is needed depending on the patient. The effects of this oral sedation dentistry pill will usually last 4-6 hours.

Our Strongest Relaxation Method: TLC

We know it may sound hokey, but “Tender Loving Care” (TLC) goes a long way.  Many of the fears and anxieties that some of our patients in Independence, KY suffer from are from bad previous experiences, where they were ignored or treated poorly.  Even though our office in Independence is busy, it is not a factory, and any patient that needs more time and attention will be scheduled to receive it. Many of our patients tend to “graduate” from needing oral sedation dentistry or laughing gas dental care to needing nothing at all, except for kindness and attention. Best of all, this form of care is free!

Your Safety is Our Number One Priority

A thorough medical history is taken and sedation is offered only to patients with whom it is safe. Even though there’s little risk, a few methods require your heart rate, oxygen level and blood pressure to be monitored as an extra precaution. You’re in safe hands while you’re sedated. Barring certain medical conditions, “sleep dentistry” is very safe. Laughing gas dentistry is very safe for the vast majority of people because it does not remain in the body and is not broken down by the body.  You breathe it in, then breathe it out.  Unfortunately, there are 2 health conditions we cannot use it with: pregnancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

Ready to Feel More Relaxed During Your Next Visit to the Dentist?

At Peter Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, our goal is to make sure our patients feel relaxed and comfortable during their visit to our office. Our dental sedation services provide our patients who have large amounts of anxiety around their visit de-stress and still maintain their beautiful smile. Find out how our sedation dentistry services can help you by contacting us online or calling our office in Independence, KY (859-429-1327) today!