If you are fearful of the dentist, we believe you. It is estimated that over 35 million Americans have avoided the dentist in the past 5 years due to their overwhelming fears. For others, dentistry can just be plain uncomfortable. Getting dentistry accomplished can be a life-changing experience and it’s not something that should be out of your reach because of fear. At Cascadia Dentistry we want to make sure that everyone can find the care they are seeking and we strive to make everyone as comfortable as possible during this process. For this reason, we offer a variety of sedation services to help you achieve the pain-free smile and function you deserve.
Nitrous Oxide: For patients that just need “to take the edge off” during their visit, we offer nitrous oxide gas which can be adjusted to your comfort level. Nitrous oxide is an odorless gas delivered via a small rubber cover that lays over your nose that is inhaled and exhaled normally. The gas is mixed with oxygen and is extremely safe. Many patients state that the effect is similar to having a “couple of glasses of wine”. Additionally, the effect wears off almost immediately upon completion of your treatment. Because of the quick onset and offset, most patients can continue to function as normal following their appointment(s).
Antianxiety Medication (Valium & Halcion): For some patients, dental anxiety is so severe that they tend to avoid dentists or postpone treatment indefinitely. Because of this, many of these patients also have some of the most significant needs which leads to further anxiety and greater avoidance. We have had a lot of success with conquering that hurdle with the aid of anxiety reducing medications which we can add in conjunction with nitrous oxide. This safe combination tends to be sufficient for even the most anxious of patients.
Contact Cascadia Dentistry to find out more about our services and to schedule an appointment: (360) 629-7229.