Finding a good dentist is hard enough, but when you have fear and anxiety about dental care, the experience can be overwhelming. We have been offering all TYPES OF SEDATION to our patients for many years. Our team is highly trained and experienced in treating nervous patients. We are dedicated to help you relax and to give your fear and anxiety the same diagnostic attention as the rest of your mouth. Feel free to call us for a complimentary consultation to discuss your fear and anxiety and how we can help you relax through your dental appointment.
Dental Fear and Anxiety
Fear and anxiety are terms that are often used interchangeably – however, they are distinctly different. Fear is a short-lived phenomenon that disappears once the threat or danger passes. Anxiety is an internal emotional response that has been learned from either personal negative experiences or through the experiences of others.
In both cases fear and anxiety trigger the “flight or fight” response from your sympathetic nervous system. The threat or fear response for many people is overwhelming and hard to control.
Many times you get mad at yourself for not being able to control the symptoms you are experiencing such as sweaty hands, racing heart, profuse perspiration, and jitters. Because of your fear and anxiety, you also cancel appointments or never schedule them to begin with because it is easier to suffer with the pain than face the anxiety. Dr. Saleh and his staff take your fear and anxiety seriously and we will treat you with the utmost compassion, care and understanding.
If you identify with these descriptions and are looking for someone who will give your fears and anxieties the same diagnostic attention as your cavities, you can relax. You have come to the right place. We want to be your "light at the end of the tunnel" of dental anxiety. At Dental Dynamics, we believe in treating you (or your anxiety) first, your mouth second.
Upon your arrival to our office for a consultation with Dr. Saleh, he will assess your particular needs and recommend the right sedation option for you. It is important to know the difference between types of sedation and to make this process simple; we simply offer all types of sedation at our facility.
Dr. Saleh is licensed sedation dentist in Oregon. He holds class III “Deep Conscious Sedation” permit. This means that he has met the stringent criteria for training and experience in Sedation Dentistry. Dr. Saleh has been performing sedation dentistry for over seven years and he is a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.
Dr. Saleh is committed to making you feel as comfortable as possible in a dental setting. We do not want our patients to ever feel ashamed or embarrassed by their anxieties. Dental fear and anxiety is incredibly common and Dr. Saleh helps many, many patients reach their treatment goals via sedation on a daily basis.
Types of Sedation
1. Nitrous Oxide or "Laughing Gas" is one of the safest and the lightest forms of sedation available and can take the anxiety out of most routine dental procedures for patients of all ages. Nitrous Oxide is non-allergenic and non-irritating. Most patients feel the effects within minutes. These effects are completely reversed within about 5 minutes of the gas being turned off, allowing you to safely drive home, return to school or go to work right after your appointment!
Almost anyone can have nitrous oxide treatment. We can vary the depth of sedation depending on your level of anxiety. The gas also tends to reduce gag reflexes and saliva flow. Most patients describe a feeling of well being and relaxation during their treatment and with no after side effects.
The gas is administered through a simple rubber hood that rests on your nose providing a feeling of numbness, security, and warmth. Near the end of your treatment, we provide you with 100% oxygen so you will feel completely normal within 5 minutes. At that point, you are ready to independently carry on your life. This is an excellent choice for the on-the-go business person or parent who needs a light sedation yet doesn’t have time to arrange for an escort to drive them to and from the appointment. Bring your IPOD!
2. Oral Sedation is the safe, convenient and economical way to administer drugs – through the mouth. When properly administered, oral sedation can be more effective and deliver a deeper relaxation state than nitrous. During the initial consultation, we will determine the best sedation option for you, take your baseline vital signs and review your medical history. At your treatment appointment, we will give you an oral sedative to relax you and will wait for the sedative to take effect. You will remain awake, but will feel very relaxed and drowsy.
During the procedure, we will monitor your pulse, oxygen saturation rate, blood pressure and heart rhythm. We will remain by your side during the procedure. Don’t let anxiety keep you from having a confident smile!
We welcome you to call us for a complimentary consultation to simply talk about your anxieties and fears, we will do that and no dental exam would be done until you feel comfortable enough.
3. IV Sedation “Deep Sedation” is the most preferred and predictable method of sedation where deep sedation is desired. Profound state of relaxation and amnesia is achieved during IV sedation. It is the most preferred methods for both patients and doctor alike for several reasons:
- Superior deep sedation state can be achieved by using multiple sedative medications customized to achieve the optimal sedation state.
- Superior safety where IV “intravenous” access is readily available for administration of reversal drugs and other medications if necessary.
- Customized state of sedation: Not all people respond to sedatives the same. Multiple sedatives may be used to achieve the right state of relaxation for you
- Predictable: the level of sedation can be controlled by the doctor very accurately until the desired state of sedation is achieved
- IV access to other medications to help your recovery. These long lasting medications may include anti-nausea, and anti-inflammatory and post-operative pain relief medications
- It is the best sedation method for patients with high level of dental anxiety.
- Multiple dental procedures can be performed; years of dental treatment can be completed in a single visit
During IV Sedation, we will continuously monitor your pulse, oxygen saturation rate, blood pressure, heart rhythm and breathing rate with state of the art patient monitoring equipment “EKG“. Highly-trained personnel will be with you at all times and during your recovery. In some cases we may combine both oral and IV sedation depending on your particular needs.
4. General Sedation is a state of sedation where the individual is completely unconscious, unresponsive and unaware. Breathing is provided with breathing machine. While the first three types of sedation are administered by Dr. Saleh, this type of sedation is administered by a specialized licensed anesthesiologist. This type of sedation is most often indicated for special needs patients and is safely provided in our facility.
Are you a Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
If you have any of the following:
- Fear of dentists and dental treatment
- History of traumatic dental experiences
- Difficulty getting numb or history needing multiple injections to get numb
- Very sensitive gag reflex or difficulty opening (can’t even take x-rays at times!)
- Extremely sensitive teeth
- Limited time to get dental care completed; busy schedule; need to do all treatment in a day
- Complex dental problems; or a need for surgery
- In denial of a dental problem until the pain is unbearable
- Anxiety and fear have prohibited you from receiving professional dental hygiene and preventive care
- Have not received professional dental care in many years, perhaps decades
- Have been labeled a drug seeker because fear leads you to seek pain meds but never permanent solutions for the causes of your mouth pain
- Often make and then cancel dental appointments at last minute
- Been dismissed by dental offices for (fear-induced) cancellations
- Make numerous, lengthy phone calls to the dentist's office
- Experience sweaty palms or find yourself gripping the armrests
- Have ever fainted in a dental or medical office
- Can’t open wide for even short dental appointments due to TMJ pain and dysfunction
- You rely on the use of mouth wash or rinses to suppress the malodor secondary to oral disease
- Although not extremely anxious, you simply want a very comfortable and relaxed dental experience.
- Special needs patient
… then yes, you are a candidate!
Recent research shows that number one reason adults avoid needed dental treatment is fear. Unfortunately, postponing dental care only allows dental decay and periodontal disease to progress with time. Oral conditions do not get better without assistance – the more prompt treatment the better.
Sedation Facts:
- It really works! You really can relax through your dental appointment.
- You will have little or no memory of the experience.
- You won't remember any sounds or smells.
- You can relax for up to five to six hours after the IV sedation (or the anti-anxiety pill if you choose). The length of time will vary depending on your needed treatment and type of anesthesia delivered.
- Complex dental treatments that often require multiple appointments can often be done in as little as one or two! All while you relax.
- People who have difficulty getting numb often have no problem when relaxed.
- Sedation dentistry is a safe way to reduce the fatigue of extended dental treatment requiring long visits.