Cincinnati Sedation Dentist

“I’ve struggled with a real fear of the dentist my entire life, and my teeth were in extremely sorry shape when I first went to see Dr. Peck. There was no judgment, just a focus from him and his staff on getting things healthy (with the added bonus of making them pretty!). It’s been a complete life changer, and I will be forever grateful.” — Andrew Nelson

If dental anxiety is a reality for you, we can help. As part of our gentle, judgment-free dentistry, we provide sedation options. Dr. Fred Peck, Cincinnati’s leading cosmetic dentist, has cared for the smiles of many fearful patients over his 35+ years in practice.

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Sedative medicine helps put you at ease during dental treatment. In doing so, it not only allows you to experience a peaceful dental visit but also helps the numbing medication work as it should. Have you ever found that novocain didn’t work well enough for you during a dental procedure? Many anxious patients have, and this experience has no doubt added to their dental anxiety. Because of the complex relationship between our emotions and our pain perception, being in a state of anxiety can cause you to feel pain more easily or intensely. It can also interfere with the efficacy of the novocain.

For this reason, in our practice, we prioritize helping you achieve a state of calm before we perform treatment. Sedative medicine is an important tool we can use for this purpose. Some patients do well with just some nitrous oxide. Others need oral conscious sedation.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas because it gives the patient a slightly carefree feeling. For patients with mild anxiety, this calming effect is often enough to provide relaxation and to allow the novocain to work properly. Nitrous oxide is breathed in through a mask placed over the nose and mouth, and its effects begin right away. Once the mask is removed and pure oxygen is breathed again, these effects wear off immediately, so you can safely drive yourself home. Because of this, nitrous oxide is convenient for patients who need to be able to resume their daily activities after their appointment. For our very anxious patients, we usually recommend oral sedation, as it produces a stronger sedative effect.

Oral Conscious Sedation

The oral sedative medication we prescribe to patients with severe dental anxiety produces an effect called conscious sedation. Under conscious sedation, you are in a state of such total relaxation that you usually do not even remember the appointment. Unlike general anesthesia, you are completely conscious, able to respond to us as needed and with all of your vital reflexes operating as normal. As an added measure of safety, we also monitor your vital signs throughout your visit. To bring you into this peaceful state, Dr. Peck prescribes a pill for you to take prior to your visit so that you will be well at ease before treatment begins. The effects of oral sedation will linger past the end of your appointment, so you will need someone to drive you home. There are some medical conditions in which oral sedation isn’t advised, so Dr. Peck will review your medical history thoroughly before prescribing any sedative medication.

Peaceful Dental Care for You

If anxiety has been holding you back from dental treatment, we’d love to help you get back on track. Let us know at your visit that you’d like to discuss sedation options. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at (513) 621-7666. Or simply request an appointment online, and we’ll reach out to you for scheduling.