Full of Anxiety

At Danville Family Dentistry we understand that for some people even the thought of a visit to the dentist office can be unsettling and full of anxiety. Dr. Erickson and our team have worked very hard to create a relaxing environment for our patients. One way of taking care of our patients is providing special sedation as an optional piece of the ongoing treatment plan.
For many patients who are feeling nervous or anxious about an oral procedure sedation is a great choice to make the experience more comfortable. When speaking with patients about upcoming procedures, Dr. Erickson will discuss the sedation options available. Below is a brief introduction to some of the options we have available in our office.
One of the most common sedation practices we use is nitrous oxide, otherwise known as “laughing gas.” This treatment option is very easy and convenient to use. As you breathe in nitrous oxide through a mask you will begin to feel relaxed and will find your anxiety reduced. For most patients, this method is very successful in helping our patients relax during a treatment. The wonderful benefit of nitrous oxide is that it wears off before you leave the dentist office which allows patients to drive themselves home after the appointment and continue on with the days activities without any effects.
For people who prefer more aggressive assistance with a procedure, we may also be able to offer another treatment that mixes nitrous oxide with the use of anxiety medication from the “benzodiazepine” family. Generally this prescription is written by your physician with our assistance. These medications require an escort to and from the office. Your escort will wait for you while you have your procedure and be responsible for getting you home safely. It is important that any forms and financial payments be made prior to the appointment because these cannot be made while on the medication.
These methods and others can be instrumental in you having a comfortable and stress free dental experience which is of upmost importance to our team. Please feel free to let our team know if you have any questions about our special sedation options. We are here to serve you!