Dental anxiety keeps many patients from getting care until pain, sensitivity, or swelling forces the issue. Roman Dental treats that fear with three sedation options: nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV twilight sleep, so you get comfortable care in West Houston, TX.
Nearly 73% of U.S. adults are afraid of going to the dentist, according to a 2025 census-matched survey published in The Journal of the American Dental Association, often avoiding checkups until pain, sensitivity, or swelling forces a visit. That avoidance lets small problems, like a cavity or a cracked tooth, grow into bigger, more painful ones.
At Roman Dental in West Houston, sedation dentistry removes that barrier. Our sedation dentist keeps you calm and comfortable throughout treatment, so putting off care out of fear no longer has to be the trade-off. The right sedation option for you depends on your anxiety level and the procedure you need.
Roman Dental is one of the few practices in West Houston offering IV twilight sleep sedation for all general dental procedures, from cleanings to implants. Here’s what patients can expect from our sedation dentist and team:
Our team takes time to explain every step before treatment starts, so nervous patients always know what to expect.
Roman Dental accepts dental insurance and offers CareCredit financing, so sedation dentistry fits your budget.
From nitrous oxide to IV twilight sleep, every sedation option is monitored closely by our team to keep you safe and comfortable throughout treatment.
The right sedation option for you depends on how anxious you feel and the procedure you’re having, from a routine filling to full-mouth reconstruction. Patients with only mild nervousness often just need reassurance and strong local anesthesia. Those who want to relax further can choose nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation.Â
For patients who want to be completely unaware during treatment, our West Houston sedation dentist, Dr. Roman Kotlarek, offers IV sedation, also called twilight sleep.
Nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas, is a mild sedative inhaled through a small mask placed over the nose. It’s safe for patients of all ages and is often paired with a local anesthetic to make injections more comfortable and treatment time feel shorter. Because it only provides conscious sedation, you stay awake and can answer questions throughout, while feeling relaxed, comfortable, and sometimes mildly euphoric.
Laughing gas has a real advantage over other sedatives: it works quickly, causes few side effects, and wears off fast enough that you can safely drive yourself home after your appointment at our West Houston office.
Before you leave, we have you breathe 100% oxygen to clear the nitrous oxide from your system and help you feel alert. Most patients head straight back to work, child care, or their regular routine the same day.
Oral conscious sedation uses a sedative tablet taken about an hour before your appointment to create a deeper, longer-lasting calm than nitrous oxide alone, and it can be combined with nitrous oxide for an even more relaxed visit. Most West Houston patients feel drowsy but stay awake and able to answer questions throughout treatment, and the appointment often feels like it passes much faster.
IV sedation, often called twilight sleep, is the most complete form of sedation dentistry: it keeps you fully relaxed and typically without memory of the procedure. Dr. Roman Kotlarek is one of the few dentists in West Houston offering IV sedation for every general procedure, from implants and root canals to crowns, gum treatment, and cosmetic work.
Sedation dentistry is generally safe for most patients, though it carries some risk if you have certain health conditions. Patients with sleep apnea, certain medications, or unique health histories are more likely to experience complications, so our West Houston team reviews your full medical history before recommending a sedation option. During IV and oral sedation, we monitor your vital signs closely to catch any issues early. The most common side effects are nausea, headaches, or grogginess, which resolve on their own and don’t cause lasting harm.
You won’t feel pain during dental sedation, though you may notice some pressure, as most sedation methods keep you awake and responsive. Nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation all numb your body’s response to discomfort, and we often add a local anesthetic for extra comfort, depending on the procedure. Patients at our West Houston office consistently describe treatment under sedation as far more comfortable than they expected.
You may not remember much about your procedure after dental sedation, especially with IV sedation, which most often causes short-term memory loss during treatment. Because sedatives create a relaxed, dream-like state, many patients recall little to nothing of the appointment itself. For patients with dental anxiety or difficult past experiences, that memory gap often makes future visits to our West Houston practice much easier.
Preparing for oral or IV sedation dentistry mainly means arranging a driver and following fasting instructions, since both methods affect your ability to drive and can cause nausea on a full stomach. The general guideline is to avoid food and drink for 6 to 8 hours before your appointment, though we’ll confirm the exact timing for you when you book. Nitrous oxide doesn’t require this kind of preparation since its effects wear off within minutes at our West Houston office.
Sedation dentistry is safe for children when it’s matched to their age, health, and the procedure they need. Nitrous oxide is the most common option for kids because it’s fast-acting, wears off quickly, and has few side effects. Our West Houston team evaluates every child individually before recommending oral or IV sedation for more involved procedures.
Dental insurance coverage for sedation dentistry depends on your specific plan and whether sedation is medically necessary for your procedure. Nitrous oxide is more commonly covered than oral or IV sedation, which may require pre-authorization or incur an additional out-of-pocket cost. Our West Houston team can check your specific benefits before your appointment so you know what to expect.
After oral or IV sedation dentistry, expect to feel drowsy or groggy for the rest of the day, so plan to rest and have your driver take you straight home. Most patients fully recover within 24 hours and shouldn’t drive during that window. We’ll send you home with written aftercare instructions, and our West Houston team is available by phone if you have questions during recovery.
Sedation dentistry costs vary based on the type you get. IV sedation and general anesthesia typically cost more than nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation, since they require more training to administer and carry more risk. In contrast, nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation typically cost only a few hundred dollars. Price also depends on time, since the longer you’re under sedation, the more the service typically costs.
Still, you can get affordable sedation dentistry at our West Houston office. We offer flexible financing through CareCredit, so you can cover treatment with low-interest monthly payments and manage costs over time instead of paying all at once.
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 2pm
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 2pm
14535 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 2pm
