15
Jan
Scared of the Dentist? Enjoy Relaxed Dental Care with Modern Dental Sedation
Pleasant Hill Dental understands that dental fear or anxiety can prevent you from getting the dental care you need. Dr. Cheng Zhu offers sedation dentistry in Pleasant Hill, California, to ensure everyone enjoys dentistry in our office. Whether you have mild or severe dental fear, we have several sedation dentistry options to make your dental experience positive and relaxed.
Who needs sedation dentistry?
Feeling a little nervous before a dental treatment is completely normal. It’s common to feel uneasy about the unknown or the possibility of discomfort. However, when this uneasiness escalates into a profound fear that causes you to avoid appointments altogether, it may be a sign of dental fear or dental anxiety.
Dental fear stems from several sources, including past negative experiences, fear of needles, and feelings of helplessness in the dental chair. Dental fear creates a cycle where missed appointments lead to worsening oral health. Escalated oral issues require more extensive treatments—fueling the fear even further. Sedation dentistry is an effective treatment for dental anxiety. It calms your nerves, allowing you to enjoy therapy from start to finish.
 You may also need sedation dentistry if you have a strong gag reflex or are undergoing lengthy or complex treatment. Lastly, sedation dentistry is suitable for patients with special needs or those who can’t stay still in the dental chair.
What are the different sedation dentistry options?
Dr. Zhu wants every visit to our office to be as stress-free as possible. Can’t break free from your dental fears? The following sedation dentistry options can help you enjoy dentistry again.
- Nitrous oxide: This mild sedation treatment involves inhaling nitrous oxide (laughing gas) through a small mask in the mouth. The calming effects kick in within minutes and remain as long as you inhale the gas. Nitrous oxide makes you feel happy and relaxed, but you’ll stay awake to communicate with our team. The sedation effects wear off immediately after treatment, allowing you to resume daily activities.
- Oral-conscious sedation: If you need stronger sedation than nitrous oxide, oral sedation is an excellent choice. The dentist will prescribe an oral pill, which you’ll take about an hour before your treatment. Pill-based sedation keeps you deeply relaxed without putting you to sleep. You may doze off during treatment, but a slight nudge is all it takes to awaken you. Most patients remember little about their treatment. Unlike laughing gas, oral sedation remains longer in your body after treatment. So you’ll need someone to escort you to and from our office.
- IV sedation: It’s ideal for patients with severe dental fear. The anti-anxiety medication is administered directly to the bloodstream through an IV line on your arm. Its rapid and controlled delivery makes it one of the most effective methods for achieving relaxation. IV sedation can range from mild to deep sedation, where you are on the edge of unconsciousness. You may not be fully awake in deep sedation, but you’ll breathe independently. However, our team will continuously monitor your heart rate, oxygen level, and blood pressure for optimal safety.
Call Our Office for More Information
New Patients: (925) 693-7077 | Existing Patients: (925) 692-2010
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Are you interested in dental sedation?
Dental fear is common, but it doesn’t have to control your oral health journey. Receive the dental care you deserve with sedation dentistry in Pleasant Hill, California—call (925) 693-7077 to schedule an appointment with Pleasant Hill Dental to get started.