Oral & IV Sedation Dentistry

An estimated 9% to 15% of Americans avoid seeing a dentist because of anxiety and fear. This lack of treatment often leads to gum disease, early tooth loss or aesthetic flaws that cause reduced confidence when speaking and smiling.

Sedation dentistry, also called conscious sedation, allows you to be relaxed with the aid of a drug, taken through an IV or by mouth. With today’s technology and pharmacology, there’s simply no reason to experience pain or anxiety with your trip to the dentist. The cosmetic dentists at Kuhn Dental Associates has extensive training and experience with thousands of sedation patients. We use sedation techniques for many reasons:

  • To eliminate anxiety associated with a visit to the dentist.
  • To finish more extensive treatment in less time.
  • To allow patients to have dental work with little to no memory of the procedure.
  • To help those with a severe gag reflex have dental procedures done without gagging.
  • To reduce discomfort during or after a procedure.
Woman at Kuhn Dental Associates during sedation dentistry

Licensed Sedation Dentistry For Pinehurst Residents

Dr. Ritt Kuhn is certified by the Dental Organization of Conscious Sedation and the State of North Carolina in oral and IV sedation, and completed an externship at the Medical College of Georgia.

Oral Sedation

A small pill can make a big difference in your level of anxiety. Dr. Kuhn and Dr. Grimshaw offer oral sedation to help ease any anxiety. You’ll be drowsy, dosing lightly, but able to respond to questions or directions.

IV Sedation

IV sedation is usually our choice for longer procedures as we can continually monitor and control the amount of anesthesia being administered. When Dr. Kuhn uses IV sedation during a procedure, a registered nurse is present to closely monitor you at all times and ensure that you are comfortable throughout the treatment.

Gentle, Pain-Free Treatment

Dr. Kuhn discussing sedation dentistry options with patient at Aberdeen office

Dr. Kuhn uses lasers for non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Advancements in dental technology provide us with the tools to provide treatment that is faster and more comfortable than ever before.

We offer a revolutionary alternative to traditional injections with Anutra. Anutra uses a special technology called buffering, which can reduce or alleviate the discomfort associated with injections. We also use The Wand, a computer-controlled needle-free sedation that can target just one tooth instead of having an entire half of your face be numb.

We use ultrasonic scalers to gently and effectively remove hardened tartar and dental lasers for non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Our comfort amenities

We keep you comfortable with warm, cozy blankets.

During your procedure, you can lean back and relax in a cushy dental chair, snuggle under a cozy blanket and block out distractions with noise-cancelling headphones.

We also offer refreshments, such as cookies, mints, coffee, and water.

After treatment, we will provide you with a warm towel scented with refreshing lavender.

NuCalm™ Sedation Dentistry

For patients who do not want oral or IV sedation, we offer NuCalm drug-free relaxation. This system uses advanced neuroscience to bring you to a state of deep relaxation in about five minutes, without the use of narcotics.

NuCalm gives us the ability to control your autonomic nervous system, what you might call your involuntary nervous system. It can essentially flip the switch from your “fight or flight” condition to your “rest and digest” condition. You won’t be asleep–you’ll be in a deep resting state, similar to drifting at the edge of sleep. It’s like deep meditation, but anyone can do it, and it takes just a few minutes, not the years it takes to master meditation.

To make an appointment, call (910) 692-4450 or click here to request an appointment online.