San Francisco Sleep Dentistry

Sleep dentistry may seem like something of a misnomer. After all, your last visit to the dentist probably bore little resemblance to blissful slumber. However, with the aid of new pharmacological agents, dentists from San Francisco to Syracuse are taking a whole new approach to oral health care and for many, this approach involves sleeping right through the visit.

Sweet Dreams are Made of. . . Nitrous?

As humans, we are hardwired for anxiety. In situations where we perceive threat (real or otherwise), our fight or flight responses kick in and our bodies take charge. Sometimes they do things we don't want them to. They may make us shake, tremble, and even panic. At the dentist's office, these reactions may make it tough to get treatment.

To be sure, one of the trickiest things about anxiety is that it is easy to fall into a vicious cycle where our anticipation and dread get the better of us. From there, it just escalates, so it is important to nip fear in the bud. Psychologists have all sorts of useful tips for tackling anxiety, but at the dentist's office, one of your best bets is to inquire about conscious sedation.

Conscious sedation uses nitrous oxide to induce altered awareness in patients. Safe for both children and adults, it allows most people to simply sleep through a dental visit. You will maintain the skills to speak, respond, and participate in treatment as needed without remembering a thing. For most people, it is a dream come true, regardless of whether they suffer from anxiety or apprehension.