Oral Conscious Sedation for Anxious Patients

At Bishop & Bishop Dental, we have seen many patients who experience some level of anxiety with each dental procedure or appointment. Some patients have had negative experiences with dental procedures that make them anxious, and others may have a sensitive gag reflex that has always made dental work dreadful.  We understand why a dental appointment could be intimidating, but do not want to see patients delaying treatment because of these fears.  Oral conscious sedation is an option we recommend for patients experiencing dental anxiety.
Oral conscious sedation is administered by taking a pill orally before a procedure.  The light sedative relaxes the patient but does not ‘knock out’ the patient, as they remain conscious.  They are brought to an extremely relaxed state, and when the dentist begins working local anesthetic is still used at the site of the procedure.  The combination of oral conscious sedation and local anesthetic means the patient can stay relaxed and usually allows the dentist to complete more work in one session.  This makes a more pleasant experience for an anxious patient, and can even mean less dental appointments overall.
To learn more about sedation options and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bishopdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. David Bishop at Bishop & Bishop Dental here in Silver Spring, Maryland, call 301-608-9270. 

Dental Phobia and Sedation Dentistry

If just the thought of going to the dentist for a procedure brings on fear and anxiety, sedation dentistry is probably the right choice for you. Between 5 and 8 percent of Americans avoid going to the dentist due to dental phobia, but you don’t need to let your oral health suffer because of fear. At our office in Silver Spring, MD, we offer a safe environment where we can comfort anxious patients through both oral sedation and nitrous oxide.

Sedation is mainly used when a patient has a high level of anxiety or dental phobia, not because of pain. At Bishop & Bishop Dental, we can sedate our patients through oral sedation or nitrous oxide. These methods will make sure you can tend to your oral health while avoiding the anxiety that accompanies visiting the dentist.

A common sedation method utilized in the dental industry is nitrous oxide (N20). Nitrous oxide works very rapidly, reaching the brain within 20 seconds. With this method, Dr. Bishop will place a small mask over your nose and ask you to breathe normally. Within a few short minutes, you will begin to feel the effects. Nitrous oxide wears off quickly, and there is no “hangover” effect.

The other method utilized by our office is known as oral conscious sedation. It is as simple as taking an aspirin. It is utilized for patients with mild to moderate anxiety as it is not as powerful as other sedation methods. With oral sedation, your dentist will provide you with an oral sedative, such as valium. You will not be “knocked out,” but you will feel more relaxed.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. David R. Bishop or Dr. Dorienne Taylor-Bishop, call (301) 608-9270. For more information, visit www.bishopdental.com.

Sedation Dentistry

We do our utmost to provide you with a comfortable, relaxing dental experience, from the moment you enter Bishop & Bishop Dental, through to the end of your visit. Even though our patients always feel welcome, we understand that some dental procedures can cause patients to feel uneasy or phobic. For these patients, as well as those patients who would like to complete multiple procedures in a single visit, we provide complete sedation dentistry services.

We offer both oral conscious sedation, which is administered through a one or two-dose oral medication, and nitrous oxide sedation, which you are likely familiar with as laughing gas. Both of these sedation dentistry methods allow you to remain conscious and communicative, however you will experience your procedure as nothing more than a pleasant and relaxing dream. You’ll experience no pain, apprehension or unpleasant sensations for the duration of your visit.
Sedation dentistry is safe and effective for many of our patients.  If you’d like to learn how it can benefit you during your next procedure at Bishop & Bishop Dental, please call us directly.