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Sedation Specialist

Gregory Family Dental

Cosmetic & Family Dentist located in Kansas City, MO

Having someone poke around in your mouth with dental tools isn’t the most pleasant experience, so many people fear a trip to the dentist and then avoid going. At Gregory Family Dental in Kansas City, Missouri, Emile McLaurian, DDS, and the caring team can take the anxiety out of your dental visit with sedation dentistry. Even for simple work, you can feel relaxed and have your dental procedures done without stress. To explore your options for sedation dentistry, call the office or book a consultation online today.

Sedation Q & A

What is sedation dentistry?

As easy as modern technologies make dental work that was once very difficult to tolerate, many people still harbor anxieties about going to the dentist. Even a simple exam and cleaning can cause distress, and more extensive dental work like root canals is out of the question for some. This poses a problem because dental work is often necessary in order to save your teeth and prevent much bigger health complications.

Sedation dentistry is dental work made simple and less intimidating for you, the patient, by making you feel more relaxed. Specifically, sedation minimizes pain and discomfort and alters your state of mind to make you feel more tranquil. You may even wake up without any memory of your procedure.

When is sedation dentistry necessary?

Sedation dentistry is available for most dental services, depending on your needs. If you’re extremely anxious about going to the dentist, the team at Gregory Family Dental can work with you to minimize your anxiety with sedatives and anesthetics. Common procedures that you can get with sedation include:

  • Root canals
  • Scaling and root planing
  • Tooth fillings
  • Extractions

If you have certain chronic health conditions, like heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, you might need clearance from your general physician to undergo dental work with sedation.

What are my options for sedation?

At Gregory Family Dental, Dr. McLaurian and the team primarily use nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, for conscious sedation. It’s a gaseous medication that you breathe in through a mask. It doesn’t put you to sleep, but you’ll feel very relaxed and at ease just moments after breathing in your dose.

Your breathing slows down and your blood pressure drops. Throughout your entire procedure, the team monitors you closely to be sure that you’re breathing well and at ease. You might even fall asleep as your dentist works, but you’ll wake up quickly and be able to respond to questions and comments from the team. You’ll likely be ready for a nap once your procedure is over.

The team at Gregory Family Dental strives to make your dental visit as comfortable as possible and can discuss sedation as an option during your appointment. Call or book online for a consultation about sedation dentistry at Gregory Family Dental today.