A Safe, Comfortable Procedure
As many as 40 million Americans avoid the dentist due to fear and anxiety. At Advanced Dental Group, we offer sedation dentistry to our West Palm Beach patients who don’t have the easiest time visiting us due to their dental phobia. Skipping out on your oral care appointments can lead to serious dental issues without you even knowing, so that’s why we want to do whatever we can to prevent you from avoiding us.
With over 23 years of intravenous sedation dentistry expertise, Dr. Fraser has been helping his patients overcome their fear and phobia in order for them to receive proper dental care. Through continuing education, he obtains qualified experience and professional knowledge needed to safely offer sedation options to help alleviate stress or discomfort to our patients.
The Root of Dental Phobia and Anxiety
Dental phobia and anxiety can stem from a variety of reasons. Many people actually don’t even know they’re fearful of the dentist until they’re sitting in the waiting room and begin feeling uneasy or nervous for their appointment. Suddenly, their heart is racing, their palms are sweaty, and panic completely takes over their body. This is a major indicator that you are afraid of the dentist.
The most common causes of dental phobia and anxiety include:
- Fear of pain
- Fear of needles
- Feeling helpless in a dental chair
- The embarrassment of oral health
- Fear of side effects from anesthesia
- Fear of dental tools
- Past dental experiences
- Fear of an unsuccessful outcome
Advanced Dental Group Offers Two Options
Here at Advanced Dental Group, Dr. Fraser and Dr. Marx provide two methods of sedation so our West Palm Beach patients can relax for their appointment. Aside from being used for patients who are fearful of the dentist, we also offer sedation dentistry to those whom we believe require the necessary sedatives for their procedure due to discomfort or complexity.
We utilize nitrous oxide and intravenous sedation at our West Palm Beach dental office for our patients, depending on the level of sedatives needed. Discover how we use these methods and what procedures may be necessary for each one.
Nitrous Oxide
Both Dr. Fraser and Dr. Marx can use nitrous oxide to safely and effectively put your mind at ease for your dental appointment. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is composed of oxygen and nitrogen which quickly takes effect to provide you the relief you need. Using a face mask, you will slowly begin to breathe in the gas and as you inhale, the gas will cause you to feel tranquil and content.
Once treatment is complete, we use oxygen to reverse the effects so you are capable of driving yourself home right away. Nitrous oxide can be used for almost any procedure from routine cleaning appointments to helping ease your anxiety prior to a more complex procedure.
IV Sedation
Intravenous (IV) sedation is the most common method of sedation we use for our dental implant procedures or other oral surgeries. During your procedure, you will be fully conscious, but you won’t remember the details once your treatment is complete. The advantage of IV sedation is it allows us to complete more complex procedures in one appointment while ensuring you feel safe and worry-free.
Dr. Fraser has been a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology since 1992, and this has enabled him to safely and properly provide our patients with IV sedatives. He will closely monitor your vitals to make sure you are at a secure level during your entire procedure. Once your treatment is complete, you will need a friend or family member to drive you home, as the effects take a while to wear off.