Do you panic just thinking about going to the dentist? Dental phobia and dental anxiety are very real problems that unfortunately many people experience. Luckily, sedation dentistry is available at many dental clinics to help calm and relax patients before dental treatments and exams. Rippe Dental Associates in Centennial, CO offers dental sedation and wants to help you experience anxiety-free dental appointments!

 
Dr. Rippe is one of the top sedation dentists in Colorado and many patients who previously could not imagine going to the dentist leave our dental clinic with big smiles and healthy teeth! If you think you may require sedation dentistry, reach out to our dental clinic to set up a consultation. 

Dental Sedation Uses

Sedation dentistry is the use of prescription drugs to induce a state of relaxation that aids patients in undergoing dental exams or procedures. The use of sedation is beneficial for people of all ages and helps patients feel relaxed enough to undergo necessary dental treatments and exams. The dentists at Rippe Dental Associates suggest dental sedation for patients who have:

• Fear of dentists or dental clinics (dental anxiety)
• Previous unpleasant or traumatic dental experiences
• Anxiety disorders
• Resistance to local anesthesia
• Extremely sensitive gag reflexes
• Fear of needles
• Claustrophobia
• Difficulties sitting still or controlling movement

Types of Sedation Dentistry

Rippe Dental Associates offers different levels of sedation depending on the patient’s anxiety level and the type of treatment needed. Below is more information about each type of sedation:

Light Sedation/Anxiolysis

This level of sedation involves the use of nitrous oxide, an inhalation sedation also known as laughing gas. Light sedation is delivered through a breathing mask that is placed over the patient’s nose and does not affect consciousness so the patient can drive home after treatment. Within two to three minutes of administering the sedation the patient will begin to feel relaxed, but this wears off as soon as the patient stops inhaling the gas. 

Minimal Sedation/Oral Conscious Sedation

A dentist may prescribe an oral conscious sedation that is to be taken an hour before your appointment. Oral conscious sedatives help patients feel relaxed throughout their appointments and may cause drowsiness and disorientation. The effects of this type of sedation can take several hours to wear off so you will need somebody to bring you to and from the dentist.

Moderate IV Sedation 

This type of sedation is administered through an IV and puts patients on the edge of consciousness during a dental treatment. Patients will not be aware of anything happening or remember the appointment. The effects of moderate IV sedation can last hours, so someone will need to drive you to and from your appointment and then wait with you until you feel fully alert again.

General Anesthesia

General anesthesia makes a patient completely unconscious and requires a nurse anesthetist or an anesthesiologist to administer it and monitor the patient’s vital signs during the procedure. Due to this, it is typically used in hospitals and specialized dental clinics for extreme cases of dental anxiety and certain dental procedures.

Contact The Best Sedation Dentist in Centennial

Rippe Dental Associates has helped numerous patients with dental anxiety feel comfortable and safe seeking dental care at our dental clinic in Centennial. Our dentists and hygienists will always take the time to explain everything they are doing during and go above and beyond to ease our patients’s dental anxiety. Contact us today at (303) 779-9876 or visit our website for more information about our sedation dentistry services!