Comfortable Dental Care Without Stress and Anxiety
The MN Center for Dental Care provides pain-free, stress-free sedation dentistry. Our entire patient approach focuses on comfortable surroundings, treatments, and care, so when it’s appropriate, we include medications to help patients avoid discomfort during and after procedures.
Dental Anxiety is Natural, and More Common than You Might Think
Does the idea of visiting a dentist give you anxiety? You’re not alone if it does, 75% of people suffer from some degree of dental anxiety or dental phobia. It’s not uncommon at all to be a little nervous about a dental visit. Unfortunately, too many people let their dental anxiety keep them seeing a dentist, which often leads to:
- Increased risk of cavities and tooth decay
- Gum disease and gum recession
- Toothaches and other painful symptoms
Sedation dentistry is ideal for people who have had stressful, painful dental experiences, people with special needs and patients undergoing lengthy and/or complex dental procedures. Each patient receives the sedation medication to fit his or her situation, from anti-anxiety medication to general anesthesia. We may administer your sedation medications through liquid or pill form, inhalation of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), IV or “no needle” approaches. When administered by our trained dental care professionals, sedation dentistry is a safe, effective way to help patients get comfortable dental care.
What is Nitrous?
Nitrous Oxide is a colorless and nearly odorless gas used in dentistry to reduce anxiety, pain and gagging during procedures. You may know it under its more common name – laughing gas. It is delivered via tubing connected to a small “mask” that is placed over your nose, and offers varying degrees of sedation that range from mild tingling and euphoria to drowsiness.
You’ve likely heard of nitrous oxide before, and perhaps even benefited from it in the past if you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed … after all, it has been a fixture in dentistry since its discovery in 1772! Most people don’t realize, however, that it can be used for all types of procedures – even cleanings – given the degrees of flexible sedation it provides. This is great for those who need to take the edge off of their dental anxiety.
What is Sedation?
The type of sedation we offer to our patients is IV conscious sedation. Conscious sedation is achieved through administering a medication (midazolam) through an IV prior to the start of a procedure. This in turn places you in a state of relaxation and often times a nap. This allows the dental team to start and complete your treatment. The best part? Our patients have little memory of the event or recall interactions with the dental staff.
Before we set up your treatment with sedation we like our patients to come in for a free consultation with Dr. Sheils to discuss treatment and sedation options.
What to Expect?
Here is what we tell all of our patients to do before their appointment to ensure everything runs smoothly:
- Do not eat or drink anything 6 hours before your appointment.
- Wear comfortable clothing and a short sleeve shirt.
- Have a family member or friend drive you home (do not use an Uber or taxi.)
- Inform the doctor if you have consumed any of the following: alcohol, aspirin, birth control, coffee, tea, cigarettes, recreational drugs, and over the counter drugs.
Please refrain from doing any of the following activities for 24 hours after your appointment:
- Any driving
- Take sedatives unless directed by your medical doctor or Dr. Sheils
- Drink alcohol
- Perform any strenuous activity
- Eat a heavy meal
If a feeling of nausea develops after sedation we suggest you lay down for a while, or drink a glass of cola. If you have more questions or unusual problems arise please contact our office.