At Cormier Family Dentistry, we put the comfort and safety of our patients first and foremost. However, we know that many patients harbor deep concerns and anxieties related to dental care and treatment. Sometimes these anxieties grow large enough that preventive care and necessary dental treatments are neglected. This often leads to exacerbated dental complications and even more required dental work. It is with these patients in mind that we offer sedation dentistry at our Shreveport dental practice.
Whether you dislike the smells and sounds associated with dental offices, are struggling with the memories of a poor dental experience, or cannot keep your dental appointments for other anxiety related reasons, sedation dentistry offers both relief and the opportunity to attend your appointments anxiety-free.
We offer several methods of sedation dentistry at our Shreveport office. These include oral sedation taken in the form of a pill, the use of nitrous oxide (popularly known as laughing gas) in office, and a combination of both. In June 2014, he introduced intravenous conscious sedation, also known as IV sedation, into his practice as well. We are ready to meet the needs of nearly every patient who wishes to ease anxiety and relax in the dental chair.
Sedation dentistry allows our patients to enter a deeply relaxed state during their appointments. This allows us to treat you more effectively and expeditiously. It also affords us the opportunity to perform multiple procedures in a single office visit, thus reducing the amount of visits you need to make to our Shreveport office. We are often able to complete several years’ worth of neglected dental care in one or two appointments!
Our dentists are also often able to perform extremely complex procedures, such as the placement of dental implants, while patients are under sedation.
What is sedation dentistry?
We will give you medication to take orally about an hour prior to your procedure. This medicine allows you to enter a responsive but incredibly relaxed state of sedation during your appointment. You are allowed to relax underneath a warm blanket and will have limited awareness of the dental procedure you are undertaking. We closely monitor your vitals throughout the procedure to ensure your health and safety.
You will remain tired or groggy for a few hours after your appointment. Because of this we recommend that you arrange for a companion to drive you to and from your sedation dentistry appointment. Once the effects of the medication your will feel like yourself again.
We also offer in office nitrous oxide that helps induce a euphoric state allowing you to relax during your procedure. The effects nitrous oxide typically wear off once the procedure is over. Most patients are able to drive themselves home and return to regular daily activities.
Don’t let dental anxieties keep you from taking care of your oral health needs! Whether you have anxieties about dental office visits or experience other challenges to dental work, such as a strong gag reflex, consider sedation dentistry as a solution to help you relax and receive the treatment you require.
Learn More about Sedation Dentistry
If you are interested in sedation dentistry, please contact our Shreveport office to set up an appointment for consultation or call us at 318-868-4072. During your initial appointment, we will take a health history to ensure that sedation is safe for you as well as answer any questions you have about your options. We will take time to help you understand the sedation process and what to expect from your next appointment.
