Sedation Dentistry
If you experience mild to severe levels of dental anxiety and are delaying dental treatment as a result, you may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry services. The team at St. Petersburg Dental Center offers sedation dentistry in the St. Petersburg location for patients who want to feel more relaxed and comfortable throughout their dental visit. We can relieve fear and anxiety with IV sedation and nitrous oxide. We may use local anesthetic to numb the treatment area and reduce discomfort.
IV Sedation
Intravenous (IV) conscious sedation can be very effective for managing moderate to severe dental anxiety. This form of sleep dentistry helps a patient feel very relaxed during their procedure, and the drugs are administered intravenously. We monitor you the entire time and most patients do not remember anything about their experience.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Also known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is a colorless, odorless gas that will help you feel more relaxed throughout your visit. We can control the depth of sedation from minute to minute, and when the gas is stopped, you will return to normal within minutes. This type of sleep dentistry is ideal for patients who have mild to moderate levels of dental anxiety, and who wish to drive themselves home after their visit.
Local Anesthetic
We can numb certain parts of the mouth with local anesthetic. Lidocaine injections are very effective for numbing the tissue. Injecting the gums with local anesthetic can help us perform a number of procedure without discomfort or pain. You will still be conscious throughout the procedure and the numbing effect will wear off within hours of your visit.