Implant Blog - Sartell & Roseville, MN

Tips, Facts, And The Latest In Dentistry

Sleep Dentistry Means No More Suffering from Dental Anxiety

Medically reviewed by Saad Bassas, DDS — Board-Certified Prosthodontist · Diplomate, American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry
a dental iv sedation bag placed for a patient.
An expression in journalism states a universal truth: fear thrives in darkness. While this refers to the actual fear of the dark, it also means that hiding and denying your worries will only make them grow. For anyone who’s experienced dental anxiety, this may seem especially true.

Two out of every ten Americans skip their dental appointments because of fear. What’s worse is that because most dental disorders are progressive, persistent dental avoidance results in more pain, increased anxiety, and worsening dental conditions. It’s a vicious cycle that Dr. Saad Bassas is especially capable of breaking. One tool he uses in Roseville, MN, is sleep dentistry provided through IV sedation.

 

Advantages of IV Sedation at i-Implant Dentistry

Sedation is a specific set of methods we use to make you feel relaxed during treatments. Some forms, like oral sedatives taken before your visit or nitrous oxide inhaled during your procedure, are sufficient for most people. But for those with severe anxiety, “lights-out” is a better approach. These patients can rest assured that they will be almost entirely unaware during treatment.

Here are some other advantages of sleep dentistry:

  • It goes into effect immediately.
  • It’s monitored by Dr. Bassas for personalization.
  • It’s ideal for longer procedures.
  • You’re unlikely to remember any of the procedure.

 

Preparation and After-Care with Sedation Dentistry in Roseville, MN

As with all health care procedures, Dr. Bassas will review your complete medical history to ensure sleep dentistry is safe for you. Then, he will provide explicit instructions so you will be prepared for your treatments. Usually, this includes ensuring you have a ride home, that you wear comfortable clothes, and avoid eating or drinking within six to eight hours of your visit.

After your treatment, you will feel drowsy and unfocussed for several hours, which is normal. After-care instructions include avoiding strenuous activities for 24 hours and refraining from alcohol consumption. If you drive for NASCAR, you probably should take the day off.

 

Sleep Dentistry in Roseville, MN

Dr. Bassas and his team have thousands of hours monitoring patients under IV sedation. If you suffer from dental anxiety and want to learn more, we invite you to contact our office today.

Medically reviewed by Saad Bassas, DDS

Dr. Saad Bassas is a board-certified prosthodontist and a Diplomate of both the American Board of Prosthodontics and the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry — a dual distinction held by only a small number of dentists in the United States. He completed residency training in both oral surgery and prosthodontics, which qualifies him to surgically place and prosthetically restore dental implants himself rather than dividing that care between two providers. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Bassas performs hundreds of implant and bone-grafting procedures each year at i-Implant Dentistry in Roseville and Sartell, Minnesota, and is specially licensed to provide IV sedation. He has practiced dentistry in Minnesota since 2003.