Sedation Dentistry in Nashville, TN

Dental anxiety is a genuine problem that affects millions of people. As uncomfortable as these feelings are, the larger problem is the toll that fear of dental procedures can have on your oral health. You can’t enjoy a beautiful smile unless your teeth are healthy.

 Dr. Sully talks about sedation and how it can work for you.                             

If anxiety is holding you back from making or keeping scheduled dental appointments, the team at Sullivan Dental Partners can help.

As part of his commitment to ensuring his patients' comfort, Our team has been using sedation safely and successfully for many years. We have received specialized training from the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation and holds a Limited Conscious Sedation permit from the State of Tennessee. Our providers are also certified in Advanced Cardio Life Support.

You and your family can feel confident knowing that your care is in the hands of a highly trained professional who does everything possible to ensure your complete comfort and safety.

Compassion and Understanding Dental Care 

People experience dental anxiety for a variety of reasons. It may be the sights, sounds, and smells of the office, a strong gag reflex, or a bad dental experience they had as a child.

Whatever the source of your anxiety, the best way we can start to help you is by understanding your concerns. That is why we strongly encourage you to share your feelings with us. We’ll take the time to talk with you about your fears so we can adjust your treatment accordingly. There’s absolutely no reason for you to feel embarrassed. For decades we’ve helped hundreds of our patients overcome their anxiety so they can get the care they need.

Calming Sedation Methods in Nashville, TN

In addition to a team of compassionate professionals who care about your feelings, we’re pleased to offer effective sedation methods that can be customized just for you.

Nitrous Oxide

We are pleased to offer nitrous oxide in all our treatment rooms to make the dental experience more relaxing. Nitrous oxide is also referred to as inhalation sedation or even "happy" gas. 

Nitrous oxide is a colorless, virtually odorless gas delivered through a small tube placed under your nose. Simply breathe in normally, and you will immediately begin to feel its calming effects. 

We’ve been using nitrous oxide safely for decades, and it’s proven to be very effective for helping patients remain calm while receiving dental care. In fact, nitrous is so mild that it’s often used to help relax a fearful child, which allows us to safely and efficiently perform their dental procedures.

The effects of nitrous oxide are mild. It’s safe, and the effects dissipate shortly after we stop administering the gas. Nitrous oxide does not put you to sleep, so you will still be able to interact with your dentist. 

Conscious Sedation

Conscious sedation is an excellent way to calm your nerves before your procedure. We’ll prescribe a sedative for you to take about an hour before your appointment to help you relax even before you get to our office. To ensure your complete comfort, your provider will administer additional medication after your arrival if needed. You will remain conscious but dreamy and may even fall asleep

During treatment, you will feel very calm but remain conscious so that you can express your concerns and answer our questions. We will monitor your condition continuously throughout your procedure. Oral sedation is ideal for patients who:

• Have difficulty getting numb
• Have moderate dental anxiety
• Suffer from a strong gag reflex
• Have a lot of treatment to complete
• Want to forget their dental appointment

We will need to take a medical history and rule out any drug interactions to determine if oral sedation is safe for you. You will also need to have a driver take you to and from your appointment for your safety.

Relax and Get the Care You Need in Nashville!

Is the fear of dental visits compromising your good oral health? We urge you to contact our dental office so we can show you how easy dentistry can be with our effective sedation methods. Also, be sure to read our Sedation Dentistry FAQs.