You walk in the door with a smile on your face.

“Hello, everyone,” you say to the staff members. “I’m here for my cleaning.”

Throughout the visit, you are active and alert, even making a few jokes about cavities (you don’t have any). Yep, there’s nothing you like more than coming to the dentist office ….

OK, wake up. At Newman Springs Dental Care, we understand that coming to the dentist is not high on most people’s list of favorite activities.

At the same time, if you live in or near Lincroft, NJ, we want to make your visits to our dentist office as pleasant as possible.

If you suffer from dental anxiety, that can be difficult. We can’t wave a magic wand and make your anxiety vanish, but we do have ways that we can ease your anxiety.

Our sedation options have helped many of our patients, and it may be just what you need to get the dental care that you need.

It’s OK To Feel Anxious

You are definitely not alone. Dental anxiety affects millions of people, including some of the members of our team.
Some experts estimate that up to 1 in 5 Americans avoid going to the dentist because of severe dental anxiety. We don’t want you to be that 1. We want you to join the other 4, some of whom really do share your anxiety.

Sedation dentistry can help in several ways. Here are a few examples:

▶︎ It will calm your nerves.

This is a huge benefit of dental sedation. When you feel anxious or afraid, you may feel release hormones associated with a “fight or flight” sensation. We can assure you that we would prefer the you do neither of those things.

Any form of sedation will help you relax and stay calm throughout your treatment.

▶︎ You won’t feel any pain.

One of the reasons that many people are afraid of the dentist is because they are worried that their dental treatment will hurt. With sedation dentistry, you won’t have that concern.

Sedation has an analgesic, or pain relieving, benefit. When you receive dental sedation, you won’t feel any pain during your care.

▶︎ You won’t gag.

This is another common reason that people fear coming to the dentist, particularly people who have a sensitive gag reflex. After all, dental care requires your dentist or hygienist to put tools in your mouth to examine and clean it.

When you are under sedation, you are less likely to react to the normal procedures used during dental treatment.

▶︎ You won’t remember your visit.

This varies with different kinds of sedation, but most patients don’t remember anything about their visit.

You may recall bits and pieces, but you are mostly unaware of the specifics of what happens. As we understand it, many patients consider this one of the most important benefits of sedation dentistry.

If any of those sound like reasons that you may be interested in dental sedation, then keep reading to learn about the different kinds of sedation that we offer.

Our Sedation Options

Whether you feel mild, moderate, or severe dental anxiety, we have three levels of sedation to help you.

◼︎ Nitrous Oxide

This is the older form of dental sedation. It’s been used for more than 150 years, although today we have a much better understanding and appreciation of what it can do.
Nitrous oxide is a gas that you breathe in. The gas gives many people a euphoric sensation, which is part of why it got its nickname, laughing gas. It only takes a couple minutes for nitrous oxide to take effect.

You will continue breathing it during your treatment. When you are finished, we turn the gas off. You breathe out that last remaining bit, and then you go back to feeling like you normally do.

◼︎ Oral Sedation

This is as simple as taking a pill before your appointment. By the time you sit in our dentist chair, you may be drowsy or you may be asleep. You’ll stay this way until the medication wears off, which will be after your treatment is over.

You will need someone to drive you home if you choose this kind of sedation dentistry.

◼︎ IV Sedation

This can be used for patients with severe dental anxiety, although we also may use it for patients who are undergoing longer procedures.

Like oral sedation, the effects of IV sedation can linger for hours. You will need a ride home after your appointment, and you should plan on resting for a little bit, too.

Call To Learn More

If you can’t remember the last time you saw a dentist, please call our office in Lincroft, NJ. We would be happy to discuss our sedation dentistry and to help you find the option that will make dental care easier for you.

All you need to do is call Newman Springs Dental Care at 732-352-3903 or use our online form to make an appointment.