Being afraid is perfectly normal. As we have learned firsthand, many people are afraid of the dentist. Even people who aren’t afraid of the dentist may experience some anxiety if they learn that they need to have oral surgery.
At North Shore Smile Surgery, we want to make your experience as comfortable as possible, psychologically and physically, if you ever do need surgical dental care.
Dr. Scott Frank and our staff have been serving patients in and around Buffalo Grove for decades. Whether you need a tooth removed, dental implants placed, or some other kind of oral surgery, we can help you out.
A COMFORTABLE SPACE
The dental anxiety that many people experience during a visit for a cleaning can grow exponentially when they learn that they need oral surgery.
Any kind of surgery makes people nervous, but surgery in your mouth can be particularly worrisome for some people. This is why we do everything we can to put you at ease.
Every member of our staff understands this, and it’s why we go to great lengths to help our patients feel at ease. We want you to know that you or your loved one is in the hands of caring and competent staff whose desire it to make your visit at pain-free as possible.
Our facility was created with comfort in mind for our all our patients. It’s also why we have televisions and music available in all of our rooms. If you need or want a distraction from your treatment, this can allow you to focus on something else during your appointment.
Depending on the type of procedure you are receiving, we also offer multiple types of dental anesthesia to keep you calm and relaxed when you are in one of our dentist chairs.
types of sedation dentistry
We specialize in oral surgery in our practice, and many dentists refer their patients to us for those kinds of procedures. Those dentists know that we are good at what we do and that we care about the safety and comfort of every patient who visits our office.
This is why we offer four kinds of dental sedation. To help you understand the differences, here is a short description of each:
General anesthesia
- This kind of anesthetic is often used in hospital settings. We are able to use it because we have staff that have the training to do so safely and effectively.
- General anesthesia will render you unconscious throughout your procedure. You won’t remember anything about your oral surgery, and you won’t feel anything during the procedure.
IV sedation
- This is a step down from general anesthesia, but it is still a potent form of anesthetic. This too requires training before it can be administered, and our doctors are certified to do so.
- This leaves you in a kind of twilight state. It’s more than likely that you will not remember anything about your procedure although you will not be completely unconscious. This allows you to respond if the doctor makes a request, such as asking you to turn your head to one side.
Oral conscious sedation
- This is one of the simplest forms of dental sedation. You take a pill prior to your procedure. We wait for the medication to take effect before we get started.
- The medicine may leave you feeling extremely groggy, or it may put you to sleep. Either way, you won’t remember your surgery, and you will remain relaxed until it’s over.
Nitrous oxide
- This is the simplest form a sedation we offer. It’s been used in dentistry for more than 170 years, and it remains an effective way to help patients complete procedures without pain.
- By breathing in the gas, you will feel euphoric, relaxed, and calm. You will remain in this state until we turn off the gas and you will then breathe out whatever is left in your system. You may or may not remember anything about your treatment.
- One of the best parts about nitrous oxide is that it takes effect and wears off within minutes.
Oral surgery isn’t fun, but that doesn’t mean it has to be uncomfortable. At North Shore Smile Surgery, we strive to keep all our patients as relaxed and pain-free as we can, whether you're getting dental implants, your wisdom teeth extracted, a bone graft, or All-on-4® full arch reconstruction.
If you are in need of oral surgery, please feel free to call our office at 847-276-2500 or schedule an appointment!
