How to Care for Dental Veneers
Dental veneers can completely transform your smile and keep it looking great for years to come. Here’s how to take care of your veneers so they last as long as possible!
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry can completely change how you feel about seeing a dentist. If you struggle with visiting the dental office because of anxiety or a phobia, or just want to be more relaxed for your dental appointment or longer procedures, sedation anesthesia could be an ideal solution for you. Sedation can help you have a less stressful experience and overcome your fears to take back control of your oral health.
Sedation Dentistry Santa Rosa
Stress-Free Dental Work With Sedation
Sedation dentistry allows you to stay relaxed throughout any treatment. It can also help with issues like an overactive gag reflex, tremors, or extreme tooth sensitivity, and helps local dental anesthesia (numbing injections) work better and last longer.
Ease Long Appointments
If you need long or complex procedures, sedation dentistry allows you to combine multiple treatments into fewer, more convenient appointments without causing excess discomfort or stress. Being sedated makes it possible to do more work in one appointment.
Remove Obstacles to Care
Dental anxiety is a common reason people delay or avoid needed dental care. Our expertise as sedation dentists offers a way to beat the dental anxiety and get the care you need. Because fear shouldn’t stand in the way of your good health.
Change how you think about visiting the dentist.
Our team is dedicated to helping our patients feel more comfortable during each dental visit. We work to create a comforting, friendly and relaxed atmosphere in the office, and are always here to answer questions and address your concerns. One of the ways we help our patients have an easier time with dental treatment is by offering safe and effective sedation dentistry in Santa Rosa.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry involves safe and effective medications that help you feel deeply relaxed during dental visits. These medications significantly decrease stress, discomfort, and barriers to care such as dentophobia. They also boost the effects of other pain control medications like local dental anesthesia, ensuring a completely pain-free experience.
What are the benefits of sedation dentistry?
Dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons people put off needed treatments. Sedation offers a way to relax in the dentist’s chair and get the care you need. Even if you’re generally comfortable at the dental office, sedation dentistry can help in other ways, too.
Sedation is a great option for anyone who:
- Has an overactive gag reflex
- Has trouble getting or staying numb with local dental anesthesia
- Struggles to stay still in the dental chair
- Has medical or developmental issues that interfere with dental visits
- Has a fear of needles
- Wants to combine multiple treatments into fewer appointments
- Has very sensitive teeth or tender gums
- Needs help overcoming previous bad experiences in the dental office
Our methods of sedation allow you to remain conscious and follow directions from our team during the procedure, but feel profoundly relaxed the whole time. In fact, many people don’t even remember the dental procedure once it’s over, and are able to simply go home with renewed oral health and a beautiful smile.
How does sedation dentistry work?
Like every treatment with our team, we provide various options for sedation dentistry in Santa Rosa. This allows us to tailor your treatment to your specific needs and level of anxiety. We offer two main sedation options: nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation.
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide is an odorless gas that’s inhaled through a nasal mask that you’ll wear throughout your visit. Within minutes of breathing the gas, you’ll start to feel relaxed and at ease. Nitrous oxide also decreases tooth sensitivity and gum tenderness, making even routine dental cleanings feel more comfortable. It can also suppress the gag reflex and boost the effects of local dental anesthesia (numbing).
Nitrous oxide is ideal if you have mild to moderate dental anxiety, or if you need help getting through a quick appointment. It wears off within minutes of finishing treatment and won’t leave you feeling groggy, so you’ll be able to go about your normal routine afterward.
Oral conscious sedation
Oral conscious sedation dentistry involves taking medication (usually in the form of pills) before your appointment. We carefully select the right medications and dosages to induce a deeply relaxed state of “twilight consciousness.” This allows you to stay awake and responsive but completely stress-free throughout even longer or more complex treatments like dental implant surgery.
While this approach doesn’t put you completely “under” like general anesthesia, many people feel so relaxed that they nap through their visit. If you have moderate to severe dental anxiety, this can make your appointment feel quick and easy. Because our approach to oral conscious sedation dentistry in Santa Rosa lasts several hours, you’ll need someone to drive you home and will need to plan to take the rest of the day to relax.
Say goodbye to dental fear and hello to renewed oral health with sedation dentistry in Santa Rosa!
Your safety and comfort are always our top priorities. We use safe, well-tested, proven methods to provide painless, fear-free dentistry. With any form of dental anesthetic or sedation, we will carefully monitor your wellbeing during the entire process to ensure your safety and appropriate response to the medications.
Beyond offering sedation dentistry in Santa Rosa, our team believes that clear communication and truly listening to your concerns can make all the difference. If you struggle with dental fear, anxiety, or discomfort in the dental office, talk to us. We’ll work with you to come up with a plan to help you feel confident getting the care you need.
Meet the Santa Rosa Dentists Dedicated to Giving Your Smile the Personalized Care It Deserves
About Dr. Austin Griffith:
Dr. Austin Griffith, DDS, is a highly skilled Santa Rosa dentist with over 13 years
practicing general dentistry. He has expertise in restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, oral surgery, TMD/TMJ treatment, and emergency care. He has also experience with Invisalign® clear aligners, implant restoration, and sleep dentistry. With a patient-centered approach, he prioritizes building trust, using humor to ease anxieties, and educating patients about their options.
About Dr. Andrew McCormick:
Dr. McCormick is no longer accepting new patients.
For 40 years, Dr. McCormick has proudly served Sonoma County residents as a skilled and dedicated dentist. In that time, he has built a team of clinicians who share the same passion and commitment to excellence to ensure his patients have the best possible care at every visit.
As he enters retirement, Dr. McCormick extends his heartfelt gratitude to his patients for their trust throughout his career.
Voted Best Dentist in Santa Rosa by Readers of Bohemian Magazine
1 of 350 Dentists Worldwide Accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
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