SEDATION DENTISTRY

Birmingham, Alabama Dental Sedation

If you have fears of going to the dentist, have extremely sensitive teeth or don’t react well to normal numbing medications, sedation dentistry may be for you. Sedation or sleep dentistry allows the patient to be remain relatively conscious but to become drowsy, relaxed and almost in a sleep-like state.

How does Dental Sedation Work?

Sedation dentistry is a great way to receive overdue dental work or even multiple dental procedures at once. You take a pill provided by Dr. Koch about an hour prior to your appointment. You will need someone to bring you to your appointment where you will be monitored throughout your visit. During the time you are under dental sedation, you will feel completely relaxed, though conscious, and unaware of the actual dental procedures taking place. After your procedure is complete you will need someone to drive you back home where you can spend the rest of your day relaxing with your new smile as the dental sedation wears off. Most patients don’t even remember the procedures when the dental sedation wears off.

Who is a Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?

You would be a good candidate for dental sedation if:

• You are likely to or have put off treatment due to fear or anxiety of dental procedures. With sedation dentistry, anxiety is a non-issue as you will be completely relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure. Most patients hardly remember the procedure by the time the dental sedation wears off.
   
• You suffer from acute or chronic jaw soreness. Dental sedation also has a muscle relaxing property, allowing several hours of comfort during treatment.
   
• You have a severe gag reflex. Even though you are conscious during the procedure, you are completely relaxed and mostly unaware of what is happening in and around your mouth. No more fear of embarrassment due to an overactive gag reflex at Dr. Koch's Birmingham office.
   
• You have physical limitations such as back or neck problems. With dental sedation you can now sit comfortably in the chair for extended periods. Most patients with neck and back problems report little or no post-operative back or neck soreness.

Dental sedation can put your fear of the dentist to rest. Dr. Paul Koch of Birmingham, Alabama is trained in sedation dentistry and will monitor and help you throughout the entire dental sedation process. Call our office to learn more about sedation dentistry or to set up an appointment using dental sedation. Or you can fill out the form at the right of this page and we will get back to you.