Sedation Dentist Serving Bellingham, Franklin, Milford & Surrounding Communities
We understand that going to the dentist may be stressful for some of our patients. If your fear or anxiety has prevented you from scheduling an appointment, know that there are options available to make you as comfortable as possible while receiving dental care at Accent Dentistry. Our dentist is pleased to be able to offer our patients the option of comfortable, safe, and effective sedation dentistry.
Dr. Bankhead has been offering sedation dentistry to patients in and around Bellingham, Franklin and Milford for well over a decade. He was trained extensively both in the United States and abroad in the various methods and techniques of sedation dentistry. He continues to receive continuing education in both sedation and all forms of dentistry to offer the most options to his patients.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is a method of having dental work performed in a safe and anxiety free environment. The dentistry itself isn't different; it’s the patient's state of mind that is different. Rather than being anxious about the procedures being performed, the patient is given either nitrous oxygen or a series of medications that allow them to relax and enter a sleep-like state where they no longer fear the dentist.
Our dentist offers three types of sedation:
- Nitrous oxide (laughing gas): This sedation option is a breathable anti-anxiety agent that has few, if any side effects or contraindications.
- Diazepam (Valium): A pre-medication regimen administered both the night before and an hour in advance of the dental appointment. This will require the patient to secure transportation to and from their dental appointment.
- Oral Conscious Sedation: A series of medications administered both at home and in the dental office prior to treatment which enables the patient to slip safely into a sleep like state at which point, their dental work is completed. For this method of sedation, the patient will require a ride and a clearance from their physician.
Learn more about sedation dentistry
What are the benefits?
- The patient has little or no recollection of the dental appointment. This helps lessen dental anxiety for future visits in addition to enabling the patient to get through their current treatment. By having a positive experience under sedation, their fear of dental work is positively reduced.
- Sedation allows patients to have numerous dental procedures and lengthy treatment plans accomplished in as little as one visit. As the patient is completely relaxed, Dr. Bankhead is able to work for longer lengths of time and get more work done; thereby also reducing the number of return visits.
Sedation dentistry appointments do have certain restrictions. Depending on the type of sedation chosen, a patient may require transportation, have certain dietary restrictions and be asked to adjust their work/social schedule.
Am I a good candidate for sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is an option for almost everyone. Dr. Bankhead will review the options with each patient. Only patients with extremely complicated medical histories or health problems may be unable to be sedated for dental work. A clearance is obtained from each patient's physician prior to the actual sedation appointment to determine what, if any, risk factors exist.
We do require an initial consultation for each sedation patient. No actual treatment is done at that time, not even a cleaning as the hope would be to do all treatment while the patient is sedated. During the consultation, we will take images of all the patient's teeth, gather an extensive medical history and perform a comprehensive exam. This enables our dentist to present a complete picture of all the treatment needs than can and should be addressed.
What can I expect during my dental appointment?
During an oral conscious sedation appointment, the patient will arrive roughly 90 minutes before treatment is expected to begin. They will have taken a sleeping aid the night before to ensure that they are well rested. Once here, they are simply asked to recline in a treatment room while they are covered in blankets and made comfortable. Here, the remaining medications are administered until the patient is completely relaxed and calm. Then and only then does the dental work begin. Medications are administered throughout the course of the appointment to make sure that the patient is kept comfortable.
These medications usually wear off within 24 hours so we tell people to gauge their own recovery time. No activities aside from rest is allowed for the remainder of the day of the procedure. Most people resume normal activities the very next day.
Why should I choose Accent Dentistry for my dental care?
Dr. Bankhead has offered sedation dentistry for over ten years and is knowledgeable and experienced in various sedation dentistry methods and safety protocols for proper sedation techniques. He is a certified sedation dentist and received his training through the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, of which he is a current member. His experience and training makes him uniquely qualified to provide you with the best dental experience possible.
In addition to his sedation dentistry training, Dr. Bankhead is also trained in ALL forms of dentistry from root canals to oral surgery to implants and gum surgery. By performing all of these different procedures, normally referred out to a variety of specialists, Dr. Bankhead is able to treat most, if not all, of the dental needs of his patients in this office while under sedation. Gone are the days of having to see multiple specialists in numerous offices, all the while having to repeat your medical history and concern yourself if each office accepts your insurance.
If you are interested in scheduling an appointment or would like more information, please contact our Bellingham dentist today! Our dental practice is conveniently accessible to patients from the surrounding areas of Franklin and Milford as well. We look forward to welcoming you to our practice!