Southern York Smile Care has a solution for dental anxiety: gentle sedation that helps you relax through your dental treatment. If fear has kept you away from the dentist, you are not alone, and there is a calm, judgment-free way back. Here is how sedation dentistry works in our Shrewsbury, PA, office.
Dental anxiety is common, and it is not your fault
Many people feel nervous about dental visits. For some, it is a mild unease. For others, it is strong enough that they put off care for years. Dental fear often comes from a painful visit in the past, a strong gag reflex, a fear of needles or simply feeling out of control while lying back in the chair.
The trouble is that avoiding the dentist tends to make things worse. Small problems that would have been quick to fix grow into bigger ones. Then the bigger treatment feels even scarier, and the cycle continues. Sedation can break that cycle, so you get the care you need in comfort.
If it has been a long time since your last visit, there is no lecture waiting for you. The only goal is to help you feel better from here.
Parents with dental fear sometimes worry about passing it on to their children. Getting comfortable care yourself is one of the best ways to show kids that the dentist is nothing to fear. Our article When Mommy Is Scared of the Dentist has tips for families.
Who can benefit from sedation?
You may want to consider sedation if any of these sound familiar:
- A strong gag reflex
- A fear of needles
- Very sensitive teeth
- Fear and anxiety about dental treatment
- Trouble getting numb
- A history of bad dental experiences
- Trouble controlling body movement because of Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy or a related condition
- A need for a lot of dental work that would mean long visits
Sedation can also help if you simply find it hard to sit still for a long time, or if you would like to get more done in fewer visits.
Oral sedation at Southern York Smile Care
Southern York Smile Care offers oral sedation. Dr. Steven Haywood, DDS, will help you decide whether it fits your needs, your health and the treatment you are having. Laughing gas is available in the Timonium office.
Oral sedation
Oral sedation, also called oral conscious sedation, uses a pill taken before your visit. It brings a deeper level of relaxation and is a good choice for moderate to severe anxiety. You stay conscious and can respond, but you feel drowsy and calm, and many people remember little of the visit afterward.
Because the effects last a few hours, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment and stay with you for a while afterward. You will get clear instructions about eating, drinking and medications before your visit.
What a sedation visit looks like
- Consultation. You talk about your fears, your health history and the treatment you need. Together you decide whether sedation is right for you.
- Before the visit. You get simple instructions. For oral sedation, that includes arranging a driver.
- During treatment. Once you feel relaxed, numbing is placed and the work begins. You are checked on throughout.
- Afterward. You rest until you are ready to go, then go home with your driver to rest for the day.
Learn more on our sedation dentistry page.
Is sedation safe?
For most healthy adults, dental sedation used by a trained dentist is very safe. Before recommending it, Dr. Haywood reviews your medical history, current medications and any health conditions. Be sure to mention breathing problems, heart conditions, pregnancy and any medicines you take, including supplements.
Your health history and medications are reviewed before your visit. If you have questions about safety, ask at your consultation. Understanding what will happen is one of the best ways to ease anxiety.
More ways to make visits comfortable
Sedation is one tool. Many other things can help nervous patients feel at ease:
- Tell us how you feel. Let the team know about your anxiety when you call. That way your visit can be planned with extra time and care.
- Agree on a stop signal. Raise your hand, and the work pauses. Knowing you are in control helps a lot.
- Ask for explanations, or not. Some people like to know every step. Others would rather not. Either is fine.
- Book a morning visit so you are not worrying about it all day.
- Bring headphones and listen to music or a podcast.
- Start small. A first visit can be just a talk and a look, with no treatment at all.
Modern technology helps too. Digital X-rays are quick and use up to 90% less radiation than older film. The intraoral camera lets you see what the dentist sees. Air abrasion can sometimes remove small areas of decay without the drill, and the Picasso laser is used for some gum treatments. See our dental technology page. You may also find our article Help! I'm Afraid of the Dentist helpful.
Getting back on track
If you have avoided the dentist for a while, a good first step is a gentle exam and a conversation. From there, a plan can be built that tackles the most important things first, at a pace that feels right to you. With sedation, some patients choose to do more work in fewer, longer visits.
Southern York Smile Care offers a full range of care, from cleanings and restorative dentistry to cosmetic dentistry and implants. Dr. Haywood has 35+ years in practice and completed a US Air Force advanced residency.
The office is out of network with every insurer. You pay at the visit, and the office files your claim for reimbursement. Kelley Fisher, our Patient Care and Treatment Coordinator, can answer insurance questions and explain payment plans with CareCredit and Cherry. See our financing page.
Take the first step in Shrewsbury
You deserve dental care that feels calm and comfortable. Call Southern York Smile Care at (717) 235-3871 to talk about sedation options, or request an appointment online. We are at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury, PA, and welcome patients from York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County, MD.
DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.
Meet Dr. Haywood →
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