Sedation Dentistry - Fear the Dentist No Longer

A fear of the dentist is one of the most common phobias among adults. Many people who fear the dentist have either had a bad dental experience in their past or have encountered so many negative stories and myths about dentistry that their fears are actually quite reasonable. It is true that modern dentistry is more comfortable and convenient for patients than ever before, with a number of procedures producing little-to-no discomfort. However, a deep-seated fear can be difficult, if not impossible, to overcome without some help.

For dental phobics, that help comes in the form of sedation dentistry. Dental sedation allows patients to undergo even complex dental procedures without being cognizant of the sounds, smells, and other sensations that cause most dental anxiety. Often called “sleep dentistry,” sedation dentistry actually allows the patient to remain awake during treatment, albeit in a drowsy, semi-aware state. While they drift pleasantly through their treatment, years’ worth of much-needed dental work can be performed. Dental implants and porcelain crowns can be placed, root canal therapy can be performed, and wisdom teeth can be extracted with ease. Procedures that might require multiple office visits can be combined into a single treatment session. Best of all, patients who undergo treatment while under sedation will emerge with little or no memory of their time in the dentist’s chair. In other words, they will receive all of the advantages of restorative and cosmetic dentistry without any of the drawbacks.

Dr. Fred Eck offers several types of dental sedation at his cosmetic dentistry practice, including IV sedation and nitrous oxide (or “laughing gas”). To learn more about sedation dentistry, contact cosmetic dentist Fred Eck at his practice serving Fort Myers and Naples.