Answer “yes” to the following questions that describe you:

• Have you been putting off your trip to the dentist because you’re afraid of the pain?
• Do you have a problem that’s been causing you discomfort or pain but don’t want to think about everything that could go wrong at the dentist—from pain to a diagnosis to costs—if you go get it checked out?
• Are you afraid of needles, the sound of drills, or the smells that you associate with the dentist?
• Did you have a traumatic experience at the dentist before and now refuse to go back?
• Are you so embarrassed about the condition of your mouth that it’s making you fearful to go to the dentist?
• Are you terrified of an upcoming procedure or treatment you need to get done at the dentist?

If any of these describe you, you may have dental anxiety or even dental phobia!

That’s not unusual, though. Up to 20 percent of people avoid the dentist because they’re afraid to go for a number of reasons.

We have a no-fear zone here at our New Albany office, where we do everything we can to make your visit pain free and comfortable, even offering you drinks, blankets and pillows, and a movie to watch on a DVD player!

Even so, you still may be afraid of being in pain during your visit. That’s why we offer 3 different types of sedation dentistry.

Nitrous Oxide

Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is inhaled through a small mask over your nose. It takes effect within just a few minutes. You’ll start to feel calm and relaxed, and you might feel a little lightheaded, or tingling or heaviness in your arms and legs (read more from the American Dental Association here). You’ll be conscious the whole time but still relaxed, which means you can answer questions we might ask or talk to us if you want to.

This type of sedation is best for smaller, short, routine procedures if you’re somewhat anxious. It’s also used a lot with kids because it’s one of the safest types of sedation dentistry, and it wears off within minutes after your appointment is over, so you can usually drive yourself home.

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral sedation comes in the form of a pill (usually lorazepam or triazolam). You’ll take it about an hour before your appointment, so that you’re calm and lightly sedated before your appointment even starts. You’ll be conscious during your procedure, so you’ll have an awareness of what’s going on around you. But it may take a little time before the effects wear off, which means you may need to have someone drive you home.

We regularly administer oral sedation to patients who are mildly afraid, and also during several different types of procedures, especially if they might take a while. It’s also a good form of sedation for anyone with a gag reflex or a patient who needs or wants several procedures done in one visit.

IV Sedation

If you’re having a more serious, complicated, or longer procedure done, IV moderate sedation might be the most effective sedation for you. IV sedation is administered with an injection by a trained specialist, and it’s regularly monitored throughout your visit so that we can control the level of sedation as needed.

If you’re very anxious and want a deeper level of sedation, then IV sedation will allow you to remember nothing about the procedure—you’ll simply be relaxed the whole time! It doesn’t take long to kick in, and because it’s easy to adjust, we can do many longer procedures in fewer visits—which saves you a lot of time!

Dr. Receveur is the only restorative dentist in Southern Indiana who is certified in IV sedation because he understands that some patients need this level of relief from their fears.

Your New Albany Dentist Can Ease Your Fears with Sedation

Every single day, we safely use these different sedatives. Your comfort is very important to us, and we will not judge you for being afraid or wanting something to ease your fears while you’re here.

We also want you to stop feeling embarrassed about your teeth or being in pain just because your fears are stopping you from smiling!

We also care about your safety, which is why we closely monitor all of our patients with any type of sedation, including your children. We’ll also ask you about your health to make sure the sedation you want is right for you.

If you’re ready to smile again, contact us today for an anxiety-free appointment!