Dental anxiety prevents many Americans from getting necessary dental care. Overcome your anxiety with Sedation Dentistry. Your Santa Cruz implant dentist offers oral conscious sedation and inhalation sedation (nitrous oxide). In general, sedation is a continuum that ranges from mild to deep:
Conscious Sedation Dentistry
Conscious sedation means you are awake during the procedure, but have limited awareness of what’s going on. Two options:
• Nitrous Oxide. Popularly known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is inhaled through a rubber mask placed over your nose. As you inhale the gas, you will feel relaxed.
• Oral Conscious Sedation. You take a sedative pill an hour before the procedure. The level of sedation is deeper compared to laughing gas. You will feel more relaxed, sleepy and less aware of what’s happening around you.
Sleep Dentistry
Sleep dentistry means you are asleep and unaware of what’s going on during the procedure. Two types:
• Intravenous (IV) Sedation. Sedatives are injected straight into the vein and work faster than pills taken by mouth. IV sedation also produces a deep state of relaxation. It is ideal for patients with moderate to severe dental fear.
• General Anesthesia. General Anesthesia is administered by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). It is the best method recommended for patients who need to undergo complicated and prolonged treatment.
During your consultation with Dr. Matiasevich, he will assess your level of fear. Dental anxiety can range from mild, moderate to severe. An honest conversation about your fears will help Dr. Matiasevich prescribe the right method of sedation. Dr. Matiasevich will also discuss your medical history, allergies, medications you are currently taking, etc.
If dental fear stops you from getting necessary dental work, ask Dr. Matiassevich about sedation. There’s no reason to fear, because we are a “No Guilt, No Lecture” dental clinic. We want you to be ABSOLUTELY comfortable before we proceed with any treatment. Call us today to learn more!
As a second-generation dentist,Dr. Matiasevich was raised in Santa Cruz. Dr. Matiasevich completed his undergraduate work in economics at the University of California Irvine and then attended the University of Southern California for his dental degree.