If you experience fear and anxiety at the mere thought of visiting the dentist, you’re not alone. Dental anxiety impacts nearly 40% of adults, including celebrities, who avoid going to the dentist unless absolutely necessary. Common triggers include unpleasant memories harkening back to childhood, an overwhelming feeling of vulnerability from sitting in the dental chair, and a fear of needles. Rest assured, Dr. Heavenly Kimes is renowned for her calming bedside manner, terrific sense of humor and clinically excellent care.
She is an exceptionally experienced and compassionate dentist with a reputation for delivering superb dentistry that is incredibly gentle on her patients’ minds and mouths! While local anesthesia and mild to moderate sedation dentistry in Duluth, GA, are typically sufficient to alleviate most patients’ nerves, Dr. Heavenly understands some people need a stronger type of dental anesthesia, so she offers all levels.
For mild cases of anxiety related to dental care, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is an ideal type of sedation. A small mask is placed over your nose, and you breathe in nitrous oxide gas mixed with oxygen. A calming effect is felt within a few minutes, taking the edge off anxiety and enabling you to feel at ease and highly relaxed. After your procedure, the nitrous oxide is shut off, and you breathe in pure oxygen. With little to no lingering side effects, you can drive home yourself.
Oral conscious sedation dentistry at Smiles by Dr. Heavenly involves taking one pill about an hour before your visit and sometimes the night before to help prevent a sleepless night. Diazepam (e.g., Valium) is a benzodiazepine medication with a long track record of providing short-term relief of anxiety symptoms.
This type of dental anesthesia is effective for quieting your mind and reducing stress before and during your procedure. You may drift in and out of a light sleep, but you can still respond to our team. The lingering side effects of oral conscious sedation can last just a few hours or as long as 12 hours. As such, a responsible adult must drive you to and from your appointment and preferably stay with you for a few hours.
If you have moderate to severe dental anxiety or you’re undergoing complex treatment, Dr. Heavenly offers IV sedation in Duluth, GA, administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. This type of dental anesthesia is administered through a thin needle placed in a vein in your hand or arm, connected to an intravenous tube that delivers the sedative medication directly into your bloodstream. While IV sedation dentistry doesn’t put you fully to sleep, you’ll be far less aware of your surroundings and what’s happening.
Our team closely monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels during your sedated procedure. The amnesic effects of the drug cause most patients to forget parts of or the entirety of their treatment. Due to drowsiness and impaired motor skills that last a minimum of 12 hours, a responsible adult must drive you home, and it’s important to refrain from rigorous activities.
As the strongest type of sedation, general anesthesia is typically reserved for severe dental phobia or lengthy, complex treatment. During your procedure, a board-certified anesthesiologist administers the anesthesia and closely monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. While under general anesthesia, you’re completely unconscious and won’t be able to respond to our team or feel any pain during your procedure.
General anesthesia side effects can last up to 12 hours, so a designated adult must accompany you to our office, stay during your procedure/recovery, and drive you home. You should rest the remainder of the day and not engage in activities requiring alertness and unimpaired motor skills.
Regular dental checkups are essential for maintaining good oral health and preventing potential issues from escalating. Neglecting professional dental care can lead to various adverse consequences, including plaque and bacteria buildup, tooth decay, oral infections, gum disease, and pain and discomfort that significantly impacts your daily life. In addition, multiple studies have linked advanced gum disease to various systemic health issues, including heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
If dental fear has become a barrier to properly caring for your teeth and gums, you’re in compassionate hands at Smiles by Dr. Heavenly. Our entire team strives to make every visit to our practice as pleasant as possible. Dental anesthesia from our team can be a game changer for your mind and body, enabling you to receive essential dental care in your comfort zone. If you’re looking for a premier Atlanta dental practice and calming sedation dentistry near you in Duluth, GA, you’ll discover dentistry can be a relaxing and downright enjoyable experience!
