oral conscious sedation Archives - West Seneca Dentist

I Wasn’t Afraid of the Dentist Until Now

Posted on November 12, 2025 by writeradmin.

I grew up with a great dentist and still went to him as an adult. Recently, we’d moved to a new state so I couldn’t keep going to the same dentist. I’d heard people talking about how horrible dentists were my entire life and always thought they were being babies. The new dentist I saw has completely changed my mind about everything. Now I’m afraid to go back. I had gone in for a dental crown and a filling. First, he cut the outside of my upper lip. Not only did he not apologize, he kept pressing on it. Then, his drill slipped and cut inside my mouth. In none of this did he apologize. Did I just have a unicorn dentist? Are most dentists like that guy? If so, I understand how no one wants to go. However, my immediate problem is the fear. Even though I go to the dentist fairly regularly, I’ve had a few cavities and also needed two crowns in my lifetime. Is there a way to navigate these appointments?

Julie

Dear Julie,

Woman asleep from dental sedation.

I am so glad you wrote. The first thing that you need to know is that the treatment you received from this new dentist was unacceptable. It certainly wouldn’t be considered normal. That, however, does not mean that you will not feel anxiety the next time you go to see any dentist.

Because of what you experienced, my recommendation is that you see a sedation dentist the next time you need a procedure. They can give you a medication to relax you and make your appointment much easier. There are different levels of sedation, from nitrous, which will relax you during the appointment and you’ll be back to normal, to oral conscious sedation which is so strong that you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment, as well as stay with you for a bit until you are lucid and steady on your feet again. There is also I.V. sedation, but I don’t think you’ll need that.

This will help with the anxiety while you find another great dentist. And don’t worry, you won’t need a unicorn. There are plenty of great ones out there.

This blog is brought to you by Gentle Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.

Numbing Medication Does Not Work for Me

Posted on September 1, 2025 by writeradmin.

I need some advice. I have never been able to tolerate dental work. This is mostly because I have never been able to get the numbing medication to work. I’m not allergic, it is almost like my body doesn’t accept it. I’ve only been going to the dentist in the most urgent situations. Those appointments, as you can imagine, are like torture. I don’t think I can keep doing this. Is there any solution for people like me? Will hospitals let me do dental work under anesthesia?

Drew

Dear Drew,

Woman asleep from dental sedation.

I’m glad you wrote. I’m also sorry for your lifetime of agony at the dentist. It’s miserable going to the dentist based on dental emergencies. While it is possible for your to have your work done at a hospital under anesthesia, there is a much more affordable solution. I would like to recommend that you see a sedation dentist.

When someone has dental anxiety, which usually stems from dental trauma, then their body tends to amp up the metabolism and their body ends up burning off the numbing medication. That is very likely the reason that you have not been able to stay numb. While some of them offer IV sedation, there is another option that may be just what you need that is worth trying out. Oral conscious sedation is administered by a pill. It is very strong and patients often sleep through the entire appointment. It’s strength also means that you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours after your appointment. You’ll want them there until you are at least lucid and steady on your feet.

Patients who’ve been unable to go regularly to the dentist because of their anxiety have found that this has changed their lives. They were finally able to to catch up on all of their needed dental work, without fear or pain.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.

Best Dentist for Terrified Patients

Posted on December 19, 2024 by writeradmin.

I was trying to find the best dentist for my situation. I have horrible, debilitating dental anxiety. It has kept me from getting my teeth cared for the way I want to. I’ve decided I need to be proactive and there MUST be a dentist out there who can help someone like me. I did a search on two review sites for “Best Dentist for Fearful Patients”, but none of the reviews had anything to do with dental anxiety. How do I find the right dentist?

Angela

Dear Angela,

I am glad you wrote. I know exactly how to help you here. First, let me say that it is awesome that you are moving forward trying to get your oral health taken care of even though you have severe anxiety. One of the definitions of courage is being afraid and doing it anyway. You are demonstrating that right now.

As you’ve discovered, these review sites are great for things like plumbers or hairdressers, but for things like specifics in dental care they do not do as well. They rate the dentists by the number of stars they get. Those reviews may have nothing to do with the care of the dentist or the specific need you have. You’ll get things like, “The staff is great!” Or “They get you in and out on time.”

If you’re looking for something specialized, like an expert cosmetic dentist or, as in your case, someone good with fearful patients, it is hard to get the right information.

The Right Dentist for Anxious Patients

You will find that the dentists who are the most compassionate with anxious patients are sedation dentists. They understand that you can’t always just will away your fears. They also don’t judge. You’re likely behind on your dental work and they don’t judge or give grief.

Plus, they can provide you with a medication that is so strong that, if you wanted to, you could sleep through your appointment. There are several levels of sedation. In your case, I am going to recommend you use oral conscious sedation. This is administered by a pill but is really strong. In fact, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.

Dental sedation changes people’s lives. You will find you will be able to quickly get caught up with your dental work.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.
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Resistance to Novocain

Posted on September 24, 2024 by writeradmin.

I have a mouth that is a complete mess. Most of that has to do with my inability to tolerate my dental care. I have a ridiculously high tolerance to novocain. It has made every dental appointment a bit of a nightmare. As a result, I have avoided the dentist like a plague and only seem to go when there is a dental emergency. If I continue this pattern, I’m going to lose more teeth. Do you know what causes this resistance and whether or not there is some way to deal with it so I can get the care I need?

Stacey A.

Dear Stacey,

Woman asleep from dental sedation.

When someone has a high resistance to Novocain, it is usually a sign that they have dental anxiety. This is a common issue, but the devastation it brings to those who have to deal with it are rather serious. The good news is that there is a solution for what you are dealing with.

The anxiety will cause your metabolic system to kick into overdrive. When that happens, your body will burn off the medication you’ve been given faster than it would under normal circumstances. This is why you are having a hard time with the Novocain working for you. The solution is for you to relax enough so that the medication stays in your system long enough to do its job.

I know. You’re probably laughing right now. Relax? At the dentist? Sure. That’s likely.

So, here is that good news which I promised earlier. If you see a sedation dentist, they can provide you with a medication that can relax you enough for your medication to work. Unless you are having major work done, I would start with the lowest level of sedation—nitrous oxide.

It sounds like you need a lot of work done at the moment. In that case, I would do something a bit stronger, such as oral conscious sedation. this is sometimes called sleep dentistry because it is so strong that you can sleep right through the procedure if you want to.

This will allow you to catch up on all of your oral healthcare. You will no longer be going from one dental emergency to another.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.

Is It Possible to Avoid General Anesthesia with Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Posted on September 23, 2023 by writeradmin.

My daughter is 20 years old and needs to have her wisdom teeth extracted. One of them is partially under the bone. Our dentist has not given us much information on this and just said to schedule the appointment. I’m assuming that some type of sedative has to be used. Does she need the type of sedation that they do in hospitals during surgery or is there a less scary one?

Cassie

Dear Cassie,

Bear in mind that I have not examined your daughter myself or seen any diagnostics, so I don’t have all the information. However, unless your dentist said their were some complicating factors other than just being partially under the bone, then I don’t think she will need anything more than oral conscious sedation.

Oral conscious sedation is administered by a pill but is still very strong. She will likely just sleep through the entire procedure. However, she is still conscious and can stay awake if she really wants to. Most people just prefer to sleep.

I am not too worried about the bone issue. At your daughter’s age, the bone is still pliable. There is not much cementum accumlation on the roots of the teeth at this age either. She’s actually in a sweet spot when it comes to extracting wisdom teeth.

As I am sure you know and why you expressed concern, there are added risks with general anesthesia. If she doesn’t need it, and I really don’t think she does, then you will be fine with just getting the oral conscious sedation. If you are still concerned, you can look for a dentist who is associated with DOCS, which is the Oral Conscious Sedation Organization. They provide special training for dentists. This will ensure your daughter is in the safest hands.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.

Help! Novocain Doesn’t Work on Me

Posted on May 23, 2023 by writeradmin.

Every single one of my dental appointments are a complete torture session because Novocain just doesn’t work on me. As a result, I have been avoiding the dentist. However, I am worried about my dental health and have noticed some decay. Can you please help me? Is there another type of option to Novocain. My dentist insists it works for everyone but me. I feel very uncared for at this point. I can’t be the only person this happens to. If I can’t find a solution, I fear I’ll be in dentures before I hit 30.

Penny

Dear Penny,

You are certainly not the only person to deal with this. The good news is there is a great solution. That being said, I do not think you are with the right dentist to help you. He doesn’t seem compassionate and doesn’t understand what is happening to you. Given your highly negative experiences with dental appointments, it is natural for you to have a significant amount of dental anxiety.

One thing to be aware of is that when you have dental anxiety it impacts the effectiveness of your Novocain. This is why it hasn’t worked for you. The great news is that there is a solution. You need to see a dentist who offers dental sedation, preferably oral conscious sedation. This is administered by pill and will completely relax you, which in turn enables the Novocain to do its job. Most people are so relaxed that they end up sleeping through their appointments.

The one downside to the complete relaxation is you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment and stay with you at home until you are lucid and steady on your feet. This is mostly to prevent you from falling if you get up to go to the bathroom. I’d plan on a nice day of bingeing your favorite shows.

A secondary benefit to this type of sedation is it allows you to get more work done at each appointment. This means you can catch up on all that dental work much sooner than would otherwise be possible.

Give this a try and I’m confident you’ll find it will change your life.
This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.

Will Insurance Cover a Sedation Dentist?

Posted on February 7, 2023 by writeradmin.

I need to have my wisdom teeth extracted, as well as have two fillings and one dental crown placed. My dentist suggested I see a sedation dentist to have the wisdom teeth done and then return to him for the remainder of the work. Is it possible a sedation dentist can just do all of it so I can get it all done at once or will I need to go to two separate offices? Also, will insurance cover the sedation?

Bethany

Dear Bethany,

These are great questions. Let’s start with will a sedation dentist be able to do all of it. A lot of that will depend on whether or not you are going to an oral surgeon for your wisdom teeth removal or a general dentist. Oral surgeons are typically not able (or willing) to do the general dental work but they will do the wisdom tooth removal. They also will have an anesthesiologist present, which your insurance will cover, at least in part.

If you go to a general dentist, they can do all the work, but whether or not your insurance will cover it depends completely on your plan. Most dental offices have a business manager who is well-versed in what insurance companies will or will not cover. You could set up a consultation with them and see what information they can give you on your specific insurance plan.

Dentists offer a variety of dental sedation options. I recommend looking for someone who offers oral conscious sedation. This will relax you enough that you will completely sleep through the procedure. The caveat to that is you will need someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment, as well as stay with you for a few hours at home until you are lucid and steady on your feet. I would plan on relaxing on the couch for he majority of the day and maybe binging some of your favorite shows.

Whether or not a dentist will do all of it at once, will depend on the extensiveness of the work you need to be done. When you do your consultation, you can go over all of that, and the dentist will advise you on what will be most useful to you.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.

Dental Sedation for a Recovering Addict

Posted on August 17, 2022 by writeradmin.

I am in a pickle. I need an extensive amount of dental work. I will need some pain meds to deal with things and would like to have sedation during the procedure. Here’s the problem I am facing. I am a recovering drug addict. I am on methadone, but it is monitored at the clinic I attend and I have a doctor and a counselor. I offered to give them their numbers and permission to access my medical records, but the dentist still doesn’t want to give me the medication I need. Is there anyway I can get help with this?

Luke

Dear Luke,

You are in a tough spot. While most dentists are compassionate, they’re also afraid of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). There were a few cases where some case agents were overly keen and some dentists, who were just trying to be compassionate, lost their licenses. The stories got around to other dentists and some overcorrected out of fear.

What you need is to find a dentist whose compassion overrules their fear. I would start by calling around to sedation dentists and explaining your situation. I truly believe if you are persistent you will find one. If you use something like oral conscious sedation this will enable you to catch up on your needed dental work even faster.

Depending on what drug you were on, your teeth may need some cosmetic work. Meth is especially hard on teeth. In fact, it is often called meth mouth. If you decide to have dental work done after you are caught up on the health necessities, choose the dentist carefully. Cosmetic work is not taught in dental school and they will need post-doctoral training.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.

Problem with Tooth Extraction

Posted on May 10, 2022 by writeradmin.

I had to have a tooth extracted and it was a nightmare that has continued post-operative. First, it took more than ten shots of Novocaine for him to get me numb. Then, less than a week after the extraction, a spur of some kind appeared that would send me in massive pain whenever anything hit it, including my tongue. It took the dentist about thirty minutes to deal with it. Now, a few days after that, I’ve got this ridge that has shown up. It feels almost like a sharp bone. Is this normal?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

It is fairly normal for something like that to show up after a tooth extraction. When your tooth was first removed, its socket had a sharp edge to it. You weren’t aware of that because the area would have had a lot of swelling. As the healing process continues, the swelling goes down and the ridge is more accessible. If it continues to bother you, your dentist can smooth the area over.

I would like to address something else that I believe will make your life significantly easier. The multiple shots it took to get one area numb almost always means you have some dental anxiety. Many dentists do not realize that if a patient has some anxiety it will inhibit the Novocaine from doing its job. The solution is to help the patient relax before administering the numbing medication.

This can be done with some nitrous oxide, if it is mild anxiety or if the patient needs something stronger, then oral conscious sedation will definitely do the trick. In your position, I would look for a sedation dentist. They will help you to have appointments that will be both anxiety-free and pain-free.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.

Should She Trust This Dentist?

Posted on February 6, 2022 by writeradmin.

I am going to be completely upfront and say the situation I am in is my fault. I tend to avoid the dentist because of the anxiety I have. My experiences at the dentist have not been pleasant. I hope you won’t take offense at that, especially because I am going to ask you for advice! Haha. OKay, so I’ve had the pain that comes and goes for a couple of weeks but when it is there it hurts like the dickens. I looked up emergency dentist so I could get in right away. This dentist did an x-ray and found a cavity on a tooth that already had a filling. He said the cavity is so large that only 10% of the tooth is viable. He’s scheduled me to have the tooth extracted and then wants to do a dental implant. This idea terrifies me. Would it be stupid to get a second opinion? By that, I mean am I just putting off the inevitable? Or, does it make sense to get a second opinion?

Lydia

Dear Lydia,

I actually think a second opinion is a good idea here. The diagnosis the dentist who you saw gave you is suspect for a couple of reasons. First, if you had decay that significant, your dentist (or you) would not need an x-ray to see it. In fact, your filling would have fallen into the cavity and there would be a large gaping hole. Additionally, a tooth that far gone would have started hurting months ago, not a couple of weeks.

When you get your second opinion, make certain you don’t tell the second dentist anything the first dentist said or even who he is for that matter. This is called a blind second opinion and will protect you from one dentist trying to cover for another one who is a friend.

A Word About Your Dental Anxiety

The anxiety you feel at the dentist is quite common. The good news is I have a solution for you. I’d like you to find a dentist who offers dental sedation. This will allow you to have positive experiences at the dentist. You can get your work done both anxiety-free and pain-free. If you need a lot of work done, which you might if you’ve avoided the dentist for a while, the best option is oral conscious sedation. This will allow you to sleep through your appointment while the dentist gets a lot of work done. Before long, you’ll be all caught up and find that the dentist is not so scary after all.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.