Calm Your Anxiety and Improve Your Dental Experience with Sedation Dentistry

Do you suffer from dental fear or anxiety? We are pleased to offer safe and effective sedation dentistry in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and its surrounding areas. Whether your dental anxiety stems from previous traumatic experiences, fear of needles, or influence from media and relatives, Dr. Chad Biggio and his team will help overcome your fears with sedation dental care. 

Have you been avoiding dental appointments because of dental anxiety? Let us help you. Relax with our anxiety-free dentistry and enjoy your procedure.

Why do I have dental fear?

Do you experience sweaty palms or a racing heart when you think about your upcoming dental visit? Do you always delay or put off dental appointments until you have obvious dental pain? Dental anxiety could be the culprit. Dental-phobic patients often avoid dental appointments, whether the treatment is simple or complex. Unfortunately, avoiding necessary dental care results in painful and costly dental issues.

Back to the question—why do you have dental fear? No one was born with the fear of the dentist. Dental anxiety or fear typically develops over time due to various factors such as:

  • Previous negative experiences
  • Trust issues
  • Embarrassment by the state of your oral health
  • Viewing your mouth as a personal space
  • Fear of unknown
  • Low pain tolerance
  • Strong gag reflex
  • Anxiety disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Negative portrayals of dentistry in media or stories from relatives and friends

What are my sedation dentistry options?

Our office uses oral sedation to suppress your anxieties. This sedation type involves taking a prescription pill about an hour before your treatment. By the time we start working on you, you’ll be deeply sedated from head to toe.

Pill-based sedation keeps you deeply relaxed but conscious enough to respond to our instructions. It gives you a dream-like feeling (drowsiness), and you may even doze off, but a slight nudge is all you need to wake up. 

This treatment provides mild to moderate sedation and is ideal for lengthy procedures. It makes you lose track of time. Our patients always tell us the treatment lasted a few minutes when it took 1-2 hours. Besides, you’ll recall little about your treatment. The amnesiac effect means you won’t remember the sounds, smells, and sights that invoke anxiety in the first place. 

Do I still need anesthesia?

Sedation dentistry is not a substitute for local anesthetics. While sedation can help alleviate anxiety and promote relaxation during dental procedures, it does not provide pain relief or numbness. Therefore, if your treatment requires anesthesia to ensure optimal comfort, the dentist will still administer it as needed.

Sedation dentistry combines with anesthesia to provide comprehensive comfort and relaxation, allowing you to undergo even complex treatments.

Is sedation dentistry right for me?

Dental fear can affect anyone, whether young or old. The good news is that we can help you enjoy dentistry again with sedation dentistry. If you suspect dental anxiety and are in the Baton Rouge area, call (225) 314-6995 to schedule an appointment with Biggio Dental Care. We’re committed to helping you enjoy dental care whenever you visit us.