Dr. Potts knows that many patients are so fearful of the dentist that they avoid dental treatment. In order to make receiving treatment easier for them he became certified in I.V. Sedation. He also obtained a fellowship in sleep dentistry with the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS). You can be assured you are in safe hands.
How Does Sleep Dentistry Work?
“Sleep dentistry” is a term that is often used to refer to conscious sedation. It’s not really an accurate term, because you’re not really asleep or unconscious. But, since you often don’t remember the work that was done on you, it may seem like you are asleep.
Many offices that perform sleep dentistry have only one protocol – you take a triazolam pill an hour before your appointment. But your needs may not be the same as every other patient, so Dr. Potts will customize a protocol for you, based on the length of your appointment, other medications you may be taking, or your previous dental experiences. All the protocols involve some type of oral medication, which may or may not be combined with nitrous oxide gas. For more information, please see our sedation dentistry page.
You will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment, as you’ll still be somewhat under the influence of the sedation when you are done. Once you arrive at the office, we’ll bring you back, put you in a comfortable room, and cover you with a blanket to keep you warm. We’ll monitor your vital signs throughout the appointment. You will be completely relaxed throughout your treatment, but will still maintain all your natural reflexes. And there’s a good chance you won’t remember what happened during your appointment.
It is important you know that no matter how long it has been since you’ve been to the dentist, you will not be judged or lectured when you come. We really do understand dental anxiety and make it a goal to put you more at ease and comfortable when you know it is time to go to the dentist again.
If you are interested in sleep dentistry, you may schedule an appointment by calling our office, or you may click here to request an appointment online.