Sedation & Comfort

Many people feel anxious before and during dental procedures. It’s okay to feel nervous or even fearful when anticipating an appointment.

Dr. Morganti will admit to you that she is terrified of needles. She hates getting shots so much that she has undergone several procedures at the office without anesthesia, just so she can avoid needles! Lucky for you, you don’t have to go without anesthesia if you’re afraid of shots. Dr. Morganti uses three tried and true methods to keep you comfortable during the administration of anesthesia.

We understand that our patients aren’t all the same, and we have great news: you have options! You can experience dental treatment in a comfortable, customized approach with several different methods of sedation.

NITROUS OXIDE

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” is readily available in our office and provides an excellent way to combat anxiety for most dental procedures. The mildest form of sedation that we use, nitrous oxide flows through a comfortably fitting mask that rests over your nose. Nitrous oxide is an odorless gas that is used in combination with pure oxygen to induce a feeling of relaxation and well-being during treatment. Nitrous oxide often creates a pleasant feeling of euphoria that can make ordinary things seem funnier. We can easily customize the level of sedation for each patient, which takes effect within minutes.

As a mild sedation, you won’t experience any short-term memory loss as you might with other forms of sedation. At the end of treatment, the sedation caused by the nitrous oxide dissipates almost immediately, and you will be able to return home with absolutely no lasting effects. You don’t even need an escort to or from your appointment if you are using only nitrous oxide for sedation.

TOPICAL ANESTHETICS

People are shocked that topical anesthetics work so well. They often ask why other dentists don’t use compounded topical anesthetics. The main reason is cost. Although we offer this as a free service, the compounded topical anesthetics are expensive and often seen as a luxury that a dentist doesn’t want to invest in. Not at Forest Hills Dental. The gums carefully dried and the powerful topical anesthetic is applied to the tissue for 1-3 minutes. What results is a localized area that can’t feel the poke of a needle.