Sedation Dentistry
for the Albany, Colonie & Latham, NY Region
With the addition of Dr. Kathryn Buckley to our practice, The Smile Zone is proud to be able to offer a new service to patients across Albany, Colonie & Latham, NY: sedation dentistry! Also known as conscious sedation or sleep dentistry, sedation dentistry is the practice of keeping patients calm and relaxed throughout their procedures and appointments.
Sedation dentistry was first developed to help patients suffering from dental anxiety or dental fear, but the truth is that nearly all patients can benefit from conscious sedation at some point during their lives. That’s why our dental office is offering it as an option to qualified candidates.
Learn more about sedation dentistry and whether it would be a good idea for you by reading below. Then call to make an appointment for a consultation today!
Is Sedation Dentistry Right for You?
Consider the following questions:
- Do you put off or forego necessary dental care because you’re afraid of going to the dentist?
- Do you have hard time sleeping in the nights leading up to your appointment?
- Once you’re in the dental office, does your heart begin to race or do you experience nausea?
If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you may be suffering from dental phobia (dental fear) or dental anxiety. Patients who suffer from dental anxiety are often excellent candidates for sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry allows you to relax and stay calm throughout your appointment. You won’t feel any pain or discomfort, and the sedation helps to keep racing thoughts and bothersome physical symptoms at bay.
Even if you don’t suffer from any fear of the dentist, you may still be a candidate for sedation dentistry. Certain procedures, like wisdom tooth extraction, the placing of dental implants, and root canals are lengthy procedures. Sedation dentistry keeps you calm and relaxed during these procedures, and it allows the dentist to work more easily.
Trust Dr. Kathryn Buckley
Virtually all dentists can safely administer some forms of dental sedation. Dr. Kathryn Buckley has gone a step further. She earned her certification in Conscious Sedation and trained in the technique at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. She did this specifically to help patients with dental anxiety. Because of her advanced training, Dr. Buckley makes it easy for patients with even the most severe dental fear to get the treatment they need, safely and comfortably.
Types of Sedation Available
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation can also help to control dental anxiety. It is a mild form of sedation that can help keep you calm and relaxed during your dental visit. However, if you opt for this type of sedation, you’ll need to be driven to and from our office.
Nitrous Oxide
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is the mildest form of sedation offered at our practice. It gets to work quickly and wears off quickly, making you relaxed during your procedure. You’ll be able to drive yourself to and from your appointment.
Moderate conscious sedation
Moderate sedation involves the combination of oral sedation and nitrous oxide sedation to decrease your dental anxiety and maintain a state of calm and relaxation throughout your appointment. This type of sedation provides a deeper level of sedation than an oral sedative alone. Most patients experience an amnesiac effect and often find that they in fact sleep during their procedure, making this level of sedation the most popular choice by our patients.
Contact Our Office to Schedule an Appointment
If you suffer from dental fear or dental anxiety, sedation dentistry may be right for you. As a resident of the Albany, Colonie and Latham, NY area, you do not need to look far for sedation dentistry you can count. The Smile Zone is proud to ease dental anxiety for patients across the region with this service! Call us today to discuss our sedation dentistry options or to schedule your appointment.
