Sedation Dentistry

Fear-Free, Pain-Free Dentistry with Sedation

Millions of Americans put off dental care because of anxiety. In fact, fear of the dentist is one of the most common phobias in adults. If you’re one of the many people who avoid going to the dentist because of fear or anxiety, consider sedation dentistry at Monterey Peninsula Dental Group. We’re committed to helping you overcome your dental fears so you can take back control of your oral health. Our dentists utilize safe and effective dental anesthesia in Monterey, California so you can get the care you need without stress or pain.

What Happens If You Avoid Dental Treatments Because of Anxiety?

It’s not at all uncommon to have fears about getting dental work done. In many cases, this kind of anxiety makes it so difficult to relax and sit through a dental appointment that you may avoid coming in for needed dental care, or put it off until an emergency develops. 

The problem is that delaying dental treatments only gives time for issues to get worse. What may have been a small cavity that could be quickly treated with a simple filling will grow over time, meaning you may need a dental crown, root canal treatment, or even tooth extraction if the decay grows too large.

Prompt and comfortable dental treatments are the best way to prevent the discomfort and expense of larger, more complex procedures. Luckily, there are medical advances in sedation dentistry that make it possible for you to get the regular dental care you need without worry.

What Are the Benefits of Sedation Dentistry?

There are many ways dental sedation can improve your comfort, confidence, and long-term oral health. Here are some of the many benefits of sedation dentistry.

• Feel completely relaxed at every dental appointment.
• Overcome previous bad experiences and replace those memories with positive ones, permanently decreasing your dental anxiety.
• Local dental anesthesia (numbing injections) work better and last longer.
• Effective method for minimizing tremors and other medical conditions that make it hard to get dental treatments.
• Allows children and people with developmental delays to feel comfortable getting the care they need.
• Enables you to combine multiple treatments into fewer, more convenient appointments.
• Suppresses the gag reflex and soothes sensitive teeth.
• Empowers you to take back control of your oral health and feel confident in your smile again.
• Delivers a comfortable and relaxing experience every time!

Dental anxiety is an intensely personal experience, and there are endless reasons you may struggle to feel safe or comfortable at the dental office.

Regardless of your specific fears or needs, please do not hesitate to ask us if sedation dentistry is right for you. We’re always here to help you enjoy a better dental experience.

Our Sedation Dentistry Approach

Even people who don’t usually have trouble with the dentist can start feeling anxious and tense during long procedures, so dentists often schedule short appointments, even when there’s a lot of work to be done. Sedation dentistry can help you relax and be able to get through longer treatments, which then makes it possible for complicated dental work to be done in a shorter time frame. That helps us give you a beautiful, healthy smile more quickly, with less pain and fear involved along the way.

Our sedation dentistry services take a few different forms for patients who experience dental anxiety or have had fear-inducing experiences at a dentist’s office in the past. Depending on your individual history and needs, we offer two main sedation choices that go beyond the usual local anesthetic used during dental procedures. Which one is best for you is something your MPDG dentist will discuss with you individually; that depends on what kind of treatment you need and how long you need to be sedated.

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation dentistry is effective for longer or more involved treatments, and can allow your MPDG dentist to accomplish your needed dental work in one or two longer appointments, instead of several shorter ones. It consists of oral medications taken an hour before the appointment, which are customized to your physical and psychological needs. These may include sedatives and anti-anxiety medications, and our dentists will administer any additional medication when you arrive for your appointment.

This method of sedation dentistry induces a comfortable, relaxed state known as “twilight consciousness.” You’ll rest somewhere between being awake and asleep throughout even long and complex procedures. You’ll experience no anxiety, won’t notice time passing during the procedure, and often won’t recall the treatment after your appointment. 

Oral conscious sedation is a good choice if you have difficult anxiety or need longer dental procedures completed. Because oral conscious sedation lasts several hours, you’ll need someone else to drive you to and from your appointment.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Nitrous oxide, often known as “laughing gas,” is great for patients who need help relaxing during a relatively simple or short treatment. Nitrous oxide is incredibly safe, so much so that it is an ideal option for children who are afraid or can’t sit still during dental procedures. This approach helps them feel more comfortable and relaxed during routine appointments, preventing dental phobias later in life.

By simply inhaling an odorless combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a nasal mask, you’ll enjoy reduced anxiety, increased relaxation and a sense of euphoria until the gas is turned off. Although you’ll remain aware and awake during your appointment, the gas can reduce tooth sensitivity, suppress the gag reflex, help local dental anesthesia injections work better, and ensure your complete comfort throughout your visit. 

The effects of nitrous oxide anesthesia wear off within minutes, so you’ll be able to drive yourself home and go about your normal routine after your appointment. Nitrous oxide can also be used in combination with oral conscious sedation to enhance its effects temporarily.

Onset: Our Patented Approach to Making Every Procedure More Comfortable

Fear of needles is one of the most common reasons people feel uncomfortable at the dentist. And it’s no wonder! Numbing injections can be uncomfortable.

We proudly offer Onset, a specialized product that takes the sting out of local dental anesthesia. It works by bringing the numbing solution to your body’s neutral pH, making injections more comfortable, more effective, and longer lasting. Paired with our other options for sedation dentistry in Monterey, you won’t feel a thing!

What to Know About Sedation Dentistry

At Monterey Peninsula Dental Group, your wellbeing is our primary concern. Before having any kind of sedation dentistry, we will want to know about your health history, any medications you take, and some lifestyle habits that may affect sedation, like smoking or drinking.

During sedation, our trained dental team will monitor your blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs to be sure the anesthesia is completely safe and effective throughout your dental treatment. Sedation dentistry is entirely safe, even for people who typically resist anesthesia. It also doesn’t involve IV needles, the use of which can cause additional anxiety for some people.

Talk to Our Office About Sedation Dentistry Today

We are happy to talk with you about how our sedation dentistry services work. If you have any questions about our sedation options or how sedation dentistry might help you, please call our friendly staff during office hours at 831-373-3068, or contact us online anytime. We serve patients and communities across the entire Monterey Peninsula and have been doing so proudly since 1972.