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Dr. Steven Lind, DMD
PH. 503-566-7000
Map & Directions
Sedation Dentistry
The affordability, availability, and effectiveness of sedation dentistry has come a long way in the last several years. Today’s dental patients are experiencing far less pain and discomfort than they were even ten years ago. Despite this fact, there are millions of Americans who continue to avoid going to the dentist out of anxiety or fear that they will have a traumatic, painful experience.
However, when pressed, nearly all of these same individuals realize that postponing dental care will only make matters worse, leading to more extensive and expensive dental work in the future. What can be done about this? Education may be the best way to fight these irrational fears.
A prime candidate for sedation dentistry may be avoiding dental care for any of the following reasons:
- A history of traumatic dental incidents
- Anxiety attacks
- Claustrophobia, fear of needles, or any other medical or dental-related phobias
- Difficulty sitting still for extended periods of time
- Difficulty controlling movements – especially children and individuals with cerebral palsy or other neuromuscular disorders
- Natural resistance to local anesthetics
- Overly sensitive teeth, gums, jaw, or gag reflex
Sedation dentistry also allows dentists to perform multiple extensive procedures in one sitting that would have previously required multiple dental visits.
Your sedation options
There are many sedation options available for today’s dental patient. These range from oral sedatives to inhalants (nitrous oxide) to intravenous sedatives. Some of these sedatives allow you to be alert enough to respond to questions, while keeping you largely unaware of what is going on around you. These sedatives differ from general anesthesia in that you are not entirely "knocked out." General anesthesia is also an option, but is usually reserved for major dental surgeries.
If you need dental work performed, but are putting it off out of fear or anxiety, you are strongly encouraged to consider sedation dentistry. Today’s sedation options ensure that your dental procedure is as free of pain and discomfort as possible. If you live in the Portland or Beaverton area, please contact The Art of Smile Making today to arrange a free consultation.
For more information, please see Sedation Dentistry Questions.
If you are interested in sedation dentistry, please contact The Art of Smilemaking to learn how it can reduce your anxiety and contribute to better dental health and a more positive dental experience.
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