Sedation Dentistry

Patients of Dr. Pfister can rely on compassionate, gentle dentistry to achieve better oral health and a more attractive smile. Attentiveness to patient comfort is important to our team whether we are performing routine exam and cleaning, tooth repair, or cosmetic enhancements. We recognize that dental anxiety is a very real problem for many of our patients and we are happy to provide care that alleviates the stress of dentistry.

Dental anxiety can prevent you from obtaining the care you need. We find it very unfortunate that some folks will go years without seeing their dentist. The unspoken hope is that avoiding the dental office also means avoiding pain. Ultimately, this mindset backfires when painful dental conditions prompt the need for urgent treatment.

The reasons for dental fears are unique to each individual. Perhaps you had a bad experience in the office of your childhood dentist - or several bad experiences. You may find injections of numbing medication unpleasant or may have a strong gag reflex that makes dentistry difficult. Whatever your reasons for avoiding dentistry, we want to know. Not only do we help you through them with care tailored to your needs, but we can ease your visits with the use of sedation suited to your level of anxiety.

Oral conscious sedation

Oral conscious sedation significantly reduces anxiety and allows patients to receive dental care comfortably. Prescription medication is ingested about an hour before a dental appointment and it will remain effective for several hours. Patients do not necessarily sleep through their visits, but can literally sit back and relax while we attend to their dental needs. Due to the longevity of sedative effects, patients must arrange transportation to and from their visit.