Dental Sedation Concerns

Find answers for your dental sedation concerns here.

Why are Some People Afraid of the Dentist?

Experts from the Dental Fears Research Clinic at Seattle’s University of Washington estimate as much as 8% of the U.S. population avoids visiting the dentist altogether because of uncontrollable fear associated with dental care. Another 20% live with dental anxiety and will only visit the dentist once a situation has become painful. The most common causes of dental fear and anxiety include traumatizing or unpleasant visits to the dentist earlier in life, a generalized fear of clinical spaces, and other physical or psychological disorders like PTSD. To combat dental fear and anxiety and help people receive much needed dental care, patient-focused dentists like Dr. K have chosen to offer dental sedation.

Oral Sedation Dentistry

Oral sedation refers to the use of proven anti-anxiety medications to induce a state of profound relaxation in an anxious or fearful patient. With oral sedation patients take a dose of medication about an hour before their appointment begins. By the time the patient sits down in the treatment chair, they feel comfortable and unconcerned with what’s going on around them. Oral sedation allows Dr. K to perform several procedures in one appointment.

IV Sedation Dentistry

Patients dealing with severe dental fear or who need to undergo oral surgery like wisdom tooth removal or dental implant placement can benefit from IV sedation. Administered intravenously, IV sedation induces a deeper sense of relaxation. Dr. K partners with an experienced anesthesiologist who can perform IV sedation in our Calabasas dentist office.