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Your comfort and safety are our our top priorities at Pensacola Periodontics. We understand many people experience dental anxiety and have a real and acute fear of visiting the dentist. We offer Nitrous Oxide, Oral medication and Intravenous (IV) Sedation. Regardless of type of sedation you choose, you will still require local anesthetic injections by Dr. Williams.
Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) is the mildest form of sedation available. It is inhaled, takes effect right away and wears off most quickly. As a result, it may not need to be administered throughout the procedure. You can resume normal activities afterward.
Oral Sedation involves swallowing a pill (Triazolam) the night before or the morning of your procedure. It can be a simple and effective way of decreasing anxiety. However, everyone metabolizes oral sedatives differently. This increases the possibility that you may or may not be feeling the effects when the procedure begins or perhaps feeling overly sedated. You will need a driver to go home.
During IV sedation, a Board Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) administers sedation medication directly into a vein through a pediatric size catheter. All of your vital signs, breathing and level of consciousness are continuously monitored throughout the procedure. You will also receive supplemental oxygen via a nasal cannula. This allows Dr. Williams and his team to focus entirely on your procedure. All the while you will feel completely relaxed, calm and not caring what is happening around you. You will still follow simple commands such as “turn your head” or “open wider”. IV sedation is much more predictable than oral sedation. The medication will be titrated safely to your individual requirements prior to the injections and maintained for as long as needed. It is highly unlikely that you will have any memory of the procedure itself. You will need a driver to go home and stay with you.
