The Smile Design Center of Baltimore

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Justin Counts

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These Resources Will Tell You How Sedation Dentistry Can Help You Overcome Your Fear of Visiting The Dentist

If you avoid visiting the dentist because you suffer from dental anxiety, you’re not alone. WebMD estimates that up to 20% of Americans refuse to get the dental treatment they need because they are scared of the dentist. You can learn how to overcome your fear by reading through these resources on the benefits of sedation dentistry: 

• Learn how to overcome dental anxiety with this advice from WebMD.
• This article from the American Dental Association illustrates how dental fears can be passed down to children.
• Find out how to overcome some of the most common fears associated with going to the dentist by reading this article from The Huffington Post.
• Read about the benefits of sedation dentistry with this article from The New York Times.
• The U.S. National Library of Medicine explains how oral sedation can help adult dental patients.

If you need cosmetic or general dentistry services, The Smile Design Center of Baltimore can help. Visit our website or call (443) 275-9821 to schedule an appointment with our experienced dentist, Dr. Kellner. 

Learn More About Our High Quality Dentistry Services

Did you know that we are one of the few dental offices that provide almost all dental services that exist? Our services include:

• general dentistry
• cosmetic dentistry
• rehabilitation dentistry
• implant dentistry
• sedation dentistry

If you are looking for a Baltimore dentist, learn more about what The Smile Design Center is all about and the services we offer by watching this informational video. 

A Look at the Types of Drugs Used in Oral Conscious Sedation

Sedation dentistry offers patients who suffer from dental anxiety a safe way to get the treatment they need by creating a positive dental experience. With most sedatives, patients are able to stay calm and awake throughout the entire procedure. In fact, a number of these sedatives can be taken orally, meaning that patients can avoid the potential discomfort of an IV needle. A dentist will choose the most appropriate medication to use based on the length of the procedure and the half-life of the particular sedation drug.

Valium
This benzodiazepine drug is usually prescribed for patients who must undergo time-consuming, complex dental treatments. Because it has amnesic properties, Valium allows patients to recover from these complex treatments with little to no memory of the experience. This drug also makes the treatment itself more comfortable as it induces a sleep-like mental state.

Halcion
Like Valium, Halcion has amnesic properties to help dental patients feel comfortable with their treatments. In fact, a number of individuals rely on Halcion to treat sleep conditions like insomnia. Because it has a shorter half-life than Valium, Halcion is a more appropriate option for short dental procedures.

Ativan
With a medium-length half-life, this oral sedative is most effective for dental treatments that are shorter than two hours. Its amnesic properties and anxiety-reducing effects can help patients who suffer from dental anxiety when it comes to various treatments.

Versed
Because Versed has the shortest half-life of all of the oral conscious sedation options, it is not as commonly used. However, it can alleviate dental anxiety in the same way that nitrous oxide can. Dentists typically use Versed to lessen anxiety during dental appointments that take less than 30 minutes.

If you suffer from dental anxiety, schedule an appointment with The Smile Design Center of Baltimore by calling (443) 275-9821. We are a full-service dental practice with general and cosmetic dentistry services. Our dentists offer the best sedation dentistry techniques to help you have a positive dental experience.