Your Guide to a Stress-Free Dental Visit: Understanding Sedation Dentistry at Total Dental Care
For many people, a trip to the dentist’s office creates significant stress and anxiety. The unique sounds, sensations, and fear of discomfort can prevent them from seeking the essential care they need. At Total Dental Care, we believe that fear should never stand as a barrier to a healthy smile.
That’s why our team offers compassionate, patient-centered sedation dentistry in Pekin, IL. We strive to provide anxiety-free dentistry for all our patients.
If you struggle with dental fear, have a sensitive gag reflex, or require extensive treatment, then this guide is for you. We will explain the conscious sedation dentistry options we provide, why we choose them for our patients, and exactly what you can expect during your visit.
Why Choose Sedation Dentistry?
First, you should know that dental anxiety is incredibly common, and you are not alone in your feelings. As a leading dentist for dental anxiety, we offer a safe and effective solution that helps patients enter a state of deep relaxation. This allows our dentists to perform necessary treatments efficiently and without causing distress.
You might be an ideal candidate for sedation dentistry if you experience:
- High levels of fear or anxiety about dental procedures.
- A history of traumatic dental experiences.
- Difficulty getting numb with local anesthesia.
- A sensitive gag reflex.
- Extreme tooth sensitivity.
- A need to complete a large amount of dental work in a single visit.
By opting for sedation, you empower yourself to receive timely, gentle dental care for patients who are nervous. Taking this step prevents minor issues from becoming more serious and costly problems down the road. For a deeper look into overcoming this common fear, you can read our thoughts on what to do if you’re afraid of the dentist.
What Are the Types of Dental Sedation We Offer?
To ensure patient safety and comfort, our practice focuses on two of the most reliable and trusted methods of conscious sedation. This approach allows you to remain responsive and breathe on your own while in a state of profound relaxation. Our goal is not to render you unconscious, but to make your entire experience peaceful and stress-free.
Oral Sedation Dentistry (Pill Form)
We find that oral sedation dentistry provides an excellent choice for patients with moderate to severe anxiety. It’s a simple, needle-free process that helps you feel calm before you even sit in the dental chair. This method of pill sedation for dental procedures proves highly effective.
- How it Works: Our team will prescribe a sedative pill for you to take about an hour before your scheduled appointment.
- How does oral sedation for dental work feel? You will feel drowsy and deeply relaxed. While you remain awake and able to communicate, you may feel groggy and have little to no memory of the procedure afterward. This amnesic effect provides a key benefit for patients with dentophobia.
- Key Advantage: The process is easy to administer and provides a deeper level of sedation than nitrous oxide, making it ideal for longer or more complex procedures.
Important Note: Because the effects of oral sedation take time to wear off, you must have a responsible adult drive you to and from your appointment.
Inhalation Sedation (Nitrous Oxide)
We also offer nitrous oxide for dental work, commonly known as “laughing gas,” which is a safe and effective sedative agent mixed with oxygen. As dentists who use laughing gas, we find it to be an ideal option for many patients. You inhale the gas through a small, comfortable mask that fits over your nose.
- How it Works: You simply breathe normally through the mask. Our team carefully controls the amount of sedation you receive, and it takes effect within minutes.
- What it Feels Like: Patients often describe the feeling as light, tingly, or euphoric. You will feel calm and comfortable throughout the procedure while remaining fully conscious.
- Key Advantage: The effects of nitrous oxide wear off almost immediately after we remove the mask. This is the only form of sedation that allows you to safely drive yourself home right after your appointment.
What to Expect: Your Sedation Journey with Us
We want you to feel prepared and confident when choosing a local sedation dentist, such as Total Dental Care. When you visit our bright and inviting Pekin office for sedation dentistry, the process generally follows these steps:
- 1. The Consultation – Your health and safety are our top priorities. First, you will have a thorough consultation with Stephen Dickey or Dr. David Steinwedel. During this visit, we will review your medical history, discuss your anxieties, and determine the best sedation method for you.
- 2. Pre-Appointment Instructions – Next, we will provide you with a clear set of instructions to follow before your visit. This may include when to stop eating or drinking and when to take your oral sedative, if prescribed. For oral sedation, this is when you will confirm your transportation arrangements.
- 3. During Your Procedure – Once you are comfortably settled, our experienced team will administer the We continuously track your vital signs, including your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, to ensure your complete safety.
- 4. After Your Procedure
- For Nitrous Oxide – We will have you breathe pure oxygen for a few minutes to flush the gas from your system. You’ll feel back to normal quickly and will be cleared to leave on your own.
- For Oral Sedation – Your designated driver will take you home, where you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Feeling groggy for several hours as the sedative wears off is a normal side effect.
Take the First Step Toward Comfortable Dental Care
At Total Dental Care, we are committed to changing the way you experience dentistry. As an anxiety-free dentist in Pekin, our team, led by Dr. Dickey and Dr. Steinwedel, combines advanced skill with a genuinely compassionate approach. We are the dentists who offer sedation near Pekin, IL, that you can trust.
Don’t let the fear of the dentist dictate the health of your smile. If you’re ready to experience a new standard of comfortable, stress-free dental care, contact our Pekin, IL, office today at
309-347-7055 to schedule your sedation dentistry consultation.