Going to the dentist is a nerve-wracking experience for many people, so much so that millions of Americans avoid getting much needed care solely due to fear and anxiety. At NaLa Smiles, we want absolutely everyone to enjoy calm and relaxing appointments, which is why we’re happy to offer sedation dentistry for particularly nervous patients. This allows us to stop unwanted thoughts and prevent physical pain at the same time, ensuring whenever someone comes to see us, they can do so with peace of mind. Would you like to use sedation at you or your child’s next appointment? If so, give us a call today to learn more about sedation dentistry in Alexandria, VA.
This colorless, odorless gas almost instantly helps a patient feel warmer, calmer, and more relaxed after it has been inhaled, and it’s so gentle that we can even use it with young children. It is administered using a small mask placed over the nose that remains on for the entire appointment. Once it’s removed, a patient should feel completely normal within a few minutes and be able to return to their day without any lasting drowsiness.
For patients with severe dental phobia or who need extensive care, our dentists can prescribe them medication to take at home on the day of their appointment. That way, by the time someone actually sits in the treatment chair, they are already sedated both mentally and physically. Most patients remain awake and are able to respond to basic commands, but many actually end up falling asleep! This approach helps appointments fly by in a flash, and most have little to no memory of their visit afterward.
