Dental fear is extremely common. Some patients have dental fear that makes getting dental work done uncomfortable, while others have such extreme fear that they avoid seeing the dentist altogether. For any patient that is avoiding the dentist or having significant psychological discomfort during a dental appointment, sedation medication can help!
What Sedation Dentistry Actually Does
Medications can help to relieve anxiety. When we take them, we can feel calmer, more relaxed, and drowsy. Different types of sedation are available, and each type will provide a different level of relaxation. Some medications have an amnestic effect, allowing us to forget part or all of the appointment.
Signs Sedation Might Be a Good Fit for You
- Significant apprehension or anxiety
- Fear of needles or dental equipment
- A strong gag reflex
- Difficulty sitting still for long periods
- Past traumatic experiences
- Needing extensive work completed in fewer visits
Types of Sedation Available
- Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) – provides mild sedation that will wear off quickly
- Oral Conscious Sedation – medicine is taken by mouth the day of the appointment, allowing the patient to feel extremely relaxed, sometimes to the point of falling asleep, during their dental appointment
- IV Sedation – medicine is administered intravenously such that the patient is in a twilight state or completely unconscious
What to Expect Before and After Sedation
For nitrous oxide, you can simply request to use nitrous ahead of time, and we will have it ready to go for you! The effects wear off within minutes, and you can drive yourself home from your appointment!
For oral conscious sedation, we can go over the details with you on a day prior to the day you’ll be sedated. You will pick up your prescribed medicine at the pharmacy. The day of the appointment, you will take your meds as directed, usually an hour before your appointment. A driver will need to bring you to your appointment. After your appointment, your driver will accompany you home, after which you will need some time to sleep and/or let the effects of the medicine wear off.
We have a success rate greater than 99% using oral sedation, so we recently stopped offering IV sedation in our office. If IV sedation is the level of care that you need, we have some excellent colleagues we can refer you to!
Talking to Your Dentist About Sedation Options
Most patients are medically able to use sedation medicine. If you think it might be right for you, give us a call for an appointment today!
FAQ
Q: Is sedation dentistry safe?
A: Sedation dentistry is extremely safe for the vast majority of patients! For the oral sedation medicine we usually use, the primary contraindications are respiratory issues and pregnancy. We will review your medical history to ensure that it is safe for you and go over any risks prior to prescribing the medicine.
Q: How much does sedation dentistry cost?
A: In our office, there is a fee for nitrous oxide each time it is used. If we use oral sedation medicine, there’s no additional fee beyond what it costs to buy the medicine at the pharmacy.
Q: Who is a candidate for sedation dentistry?
A: Anyone with a level of dental anxiety that is keeping them from getting regular dental care is a good potential candidate!
