Although there’s no reason to be frightened when visiting your family dentist, many people experience anxiety during dental treatment. Knowing this, the team at Drs. Bradford and Catchings Family Dentistry offers sedation dentistry. These Fishersville, VA, experts understand some people have a natural fear of the dentist, and shouldn’t be forced to experience that kind of anxiety and discomfort when receiving treatment.

Sedation dentistry reduces negative feelings in patients, making it easier for them to get the dental care they need. Your dentist may recommend one of the following methods to treat your anxiety.

1. Oral Sedation

This is the simplest and most commonly used method of sedation dentistry. The patient takes a pill before they begin their appointment, and the medication soothes their nerves.

2. Inhalation Sedation

Oral sedation may be the simplest approach, but inhalation is the most well-known. With this method, your family dentist places a mask over your nose through which you inhale “laughing gas,” a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide. As a result, you feel euphoric and free from worry about the procedure.

3. IV Sedation

IV sedation is used when a patient would otherwise experience substantial pain during treatment. By injecting a sedative intravenously, your dentist essentially puts you under, as if you were prepping for any other form of surgery. When you wake up, you generally have no memory of the procedure.

If the thought of dental care makes you nervous, ask the team at Drs. Bradford and Catchings Family Dentistry, in Fisherville, VA, about sedation dentistry options. Whether you’re getting a small cavity filled in or preparing for a tooth extraction, it will help you feel more comfortable with your treatment. Visit these family dentists online for more information or call (540) 213-1966.