Sedation Dentistry in Long Beach

If you have dental anxiety, you may neglect your oral health, not because you don't care but because overwhelming fear prevents you from scheduling an appointment. You are not alone; studies indicate over a third of people in the US fear dental treatment, with 12 percent experiencing debilitating fear.

Take Control of Your Dental Anxiety

With various levels of safe, comfortable sedation at Golden Coast Dental Care, you can finally take control of your fear and your oral health. You can follow through with the important dental care you need, knowing that your comfort is not an issue. 

Who Can Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?

Aside from minimizing dental phobia or anxiety, sedation dentistry is also beneficial in other situations.

• Complex dental procedures — If you need extensive dental work, sedation dentistry will help calm you so you can have an anxiety-free appointment.
• Sensitive teeth — Patients with sensitive teeth can benefit from dental sedation that eliminates pain and minimizes discomfort during the procedure.
• Patients with special needs — Those with special needs often have difficulty sitting still or understanding what's happening. Dental sedation can help these patients receive necessary dental care in a safe, comfortable, and stress-free manner.

We offer different levels of dental sedation to meet your unique needs. Dr. Brock Lorenz is trained and licensed to administer sedation dentistry safely and comfortably.

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, has been safely used in dentistry for over a century and benefits patients with mild to moderate anxiety.

Before your procedure, we'll ensure you're settled comfortably, then place a small breathing mask over your nose. As you inhale, you'll feel the calming effects. During your appointment, you will experience sensations of comfort and well-being and have little awareness of the activity around you.

After your procedure, we turn off the nitrous so you can breathe pure oxygen for several minutes as the drowsy effects dissipate. Shortly after, you can safely drive yourself home from your appointment. 

Oral Conscious Sedation

Another common type of sedation involves taking a sedative prescribed by your dentist about an hour before your appointment. The benefit is that when you arrive at our office with the help of a driver, you will already feel calm, relaxed, and a little drowsy.

You will remain conscious during your procedure but with reduced awareness of what's happening around you. Some patients don't remember much of their appointment and may even drift off to sleep during treatment.

Oral conscious sedation is safe and effective if you experience moderate anxiety. For your safety, we require you to have a trusted friend or family member drive you safely to and from your appointment.

IV (Intravenous) Sedation

Dr. Lorenz is licensed to offer IV (intravenous) sedation at our comfortable Long Beach, CA, dental office. The effects of IV sedation are immediate because it is administered directly into your bloodstream.

IV sedation provides significantly deeper relaxation than oral or nitrous oxide sedation. You will be in a semi-conscious state, meaning you know where you are, but you will remember little, if anything, about the procedure.

You can benefit from IV sedation if your dental anxiety is severe or if you have a more complex procedure planned, such as wisdom tooth removal. Because the medication lingers in your system for several hours, you will need the help of a friend or family member to get to and from your appointment safely.

Is Sedation Dentistry Right for You?

If dental anxiety prevents you from maintaining a healthy smile, we recommend sedation dentistry at our Long Beach, CA, dental office to help you take control of your oral health.

Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.