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Sedation dentistry makes dental care stress-free and comfortable. Stress is commonly associated with dental treatment. For many people, the level of fear and anxiety can be overwhelming. In our Houston dental office, we offer a variety of sedation techniques including intravenous sedation, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and oral conscious dental sedation to eliminate the anxiety of dental care. Have you been dealing with recurring sensitivity, dental pain, or swelling because of your fears? If so, you are not alone, and a visit with our sedation dentist in Houston, TX may be the answer.
Sedation dentistry is used for all types of dental care. The method of sedation varies dependent upon the patient’s needs and the type of dental treatment being received. Some fearful patients simply require emotional reassurance along with strong local anesthesia. A comfortable experience for others might require nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or oral conscious sedation. For those who want to be totally unaware, Dr. Roman offers the benefits of IV sedation, sometimes called twilight sleep.
Nitrous oxide is a gas that is inhaled through a mask placed over the nose. It is used for patients of all ages. Nitrous oxide is often combined with local anesthetics, pain, and anxiety medications. Nitrous oxide raises the pain threshold. For this reason, it makes dental anesthetic injections more comfortable. Additionally, nitrous oxide will make treatment time appear to pass more quickly. Nitrous oxide provides conscious sedation. This means that the patient is awake and able to answer questions but feels relaxed and comfortable. Nitrous oxide produces a feeling of euphoria and giddiness, earning it the name of laughing gas.
Laughing gas has a great advantage over other sedatives: it’s fast-acting, has few side effects, and rapid recovery time enables patients to safely drive a vehicle after treatment. Once your dental treatment is completed, 100 % oxygen is breathed-in, removing all traces of nitrous oxide from the body and providing an additional boost of energy. Immediately after the dental visit, patients can carry-on with work, child care or recreation.
So long as you’re healthy, patients of all ages – kids and adults – can qualify for nitrous oxide sedation. It doesn’t take much to be a good candidate. At the same time, some patients are more likely to benefit from this sedation. Such individuals will have conditions like:
Still, keep in mind that some people aren’t a good fit for nitrous oxide. Someone pregnant, for example, may want to avoid it for fear of affecting the unborn child. Meanwhile, those with sinus congestion or respiratory disease might find nitrous oxide ineffective. After all, their poor health may prevent them from inhaling the gas properly.
Overall, it isn’t too hard to apply nitrous oxide. Arranging the setup, in fact, only takes a few minutes or so. The dentist is then free to perform their work with a relaxed patient.
For this sedation, you inhale nitrous oxide – before and during treatment – through a nose mask. That way, you’ll be sedated when the dentist starts working. Staff will also monitor your vitals to ensure safety while applying the gas.
Nitrous oxide “kicks in” about a minute or two after inhaling it. At that point, you’ll begin to experience light-headedness and mild euphoria. Your limbs may also seem tingly or heavier than usual. Regardless of the specifics, though, you can expect to feel calm and comfortable as it works. However, the gas won’t put you to sleep; you’ll be alert and lucid enough to answer the dentist’s questions or instructions.
Ultimately, nitrous oxide sedation doesn’t require much aftercare. Its effects quickly fade once you stop inhaling it. That said, there are a few things you should know beforehand.
First, nitrous oxide takes a few minutes to exit your body. You should thus wait at our office until you feel normal before driving. Doing otherwise could put you at risk of an accident.
Secondly, the sedative won’t have any long-term effects. After the initial waiting period, you’ll be well enough to return to your regular routines – work, school, or any other task.
Lastly, follow any treatment-specific recovery instructions from your dentist. These guidelines will ease sedation effects more quickly.
Oral conscious sedation creates a deeper level of relaxation than can be achieved through nitrous oxide alone. A sedative medication is taken by mouth about an hour before treatment. Oral sedation may be used in combination with nitrous oxide. This will increase the level of relaxation. Taking a sedative tablet works well for patients who can normally cope with dental treatment. Patients experience a drowsy sensation, but remain awake and able to respond to questions and requests throughout their treatment. Oral conscious sedation works well for patients who appreciate the quicker passage of time. Because of this, treatment is completed in a more pleasant way.
Intravenous dental sedation is simply called IV sedation or twilight sleep. It is the most effective and predictable method of sedation dentistry, and it’s great for patients who are fearful of dental treatment or will be having an extensive procedure completed. This is the most effective and reliable choice for patients who don’t want any memory of their dental experience. To administer it, sedatives are delivered through an intravenous line placed in the arm. Therefore, short sleeves, comfortable clothing, and athletic footwear should be worn to the appointment. Patients must avoid food and drink for eight hours prior to treatment. A driver is needed to take the patient home after treatment. IV sedation removes anxiety, stress, and memory of dental care.
IV dental sedation is the most powerful form of sedation dentistry. It is designed to help patients achieve a deeper, more profound level of relaxation than what’s possible with nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation. A small needle will be placed in the arm, delivering the sedative medication directly into the bloodstream. Not only does this mean that the effects will take hold right away, but we will be able to adjust your level of sedation at any point if needed.
Within minutes of the sedative entering your system, you’ll enter a dreamlike state. While you’ll remain conscious, many patients feel as though they’ve slept through their entire appointment. In fact, dental care with IV sedation is so comfortable that patients often drift off to sleep during their treatment, but they can be easily awoken with a gentle nudge. Once the appointment is over, you’ll continue to feel groggy for the rest of the day. You’ll need a friend or family member to drive you home, and you aren’t likely to remember anything about your appointment.
Thanks to Dr. Kotlarek’s experience, we can offer IV dental sedation to patients of all ages. You may be a good candidate for IV dental sedation if you:
However, not everyone is a good candidate for IV dental sedation. Certain medications and medical conditions could indicate that a different type of sedation dentistry would be a better fit for you. The only way to know for sure if you’re a good candidate for IV sedation is to come see us for a consultation.
IV sedation offers numerous benefits, such as:
IV sedation is the most reliable method for comfortably receiving dental treatment. Because IV sedation takes effect immediately, it’s easily regulated. Also, the intravenous route of sedation allows control of the depth and duration of sedation. As an alternative, oral conscious sedation offers the simplicity of taking a pill with water. Unfortunately, oral conscious sedation does not offer control over how soon the sedation takes place and when the effects wear-off. Oral conscious sedation isn’t as predictable as other methods of sedation. However, it is simple, effective, and creates calmness.
Are you thinking of seeing your sedation dentist in Houston? If so, that’s great news to hear! We at Roman Dental use sedatives that make treatment truly smooth and comfortable. That said, you might have questions about how the process works. After all, you likely want to ensure sedation is your ideal choice. Therefore, listed below are the answers to some frequently asked sedation questions. Please read them over to get a better feel for dental sedatives. If you don’t find the facts you want, though, don’t worry — feel free to call our office or set up a visit for more details!
Rest assured, sedation dentistry is generally safe for most patients. Still, it does present risks for some people.
In general, dental sedatives are only risky if you’re in a unique situation. For example, those with sleep apnea or who take certain medications may develop complications from them. Furthermore, some patients have unique bodies that might react differently to the sedation process.
Again, we emphasize that dental sedatives are usually safe. At most, their typical side effects are nausea, headaches, or grogginess — things that don’t harm your long-term health.
Whatever else you feel from sedation, it’s a certainty that you won’t experience pain. All available types ensure your procedure isn’t uncomfortable.
You see, all our sedatives numb your body to discomfort. Whether it’s oral conscious, nitrous oxide, or IV dental sedation, you won’t feel a thing. You’ll still be awake, though, so you may experience some pressure rather than outright pain.
We might also use a local anesthetic to prevent pain, depending on the procedure.
Again, you’re technically awake for most forms of sedation. However, there’s a good chance you won’t remember much of your procedure.
Among other things, one (temporary) effect of sedatives is reduced memory formation. The medicines put you in a dream-like haze, making it harder to form memories. IV sedation, especially, is likely to make you forget your procedure. Fortunately, this memory-loss effect makes dental care much easier for patients with anxiety or negative past dental experiences.
How much your sedation costs will vary based on the kind you get.
In general, IV sedation and general anesthesia cost more than nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation. The former two require more training to administer; they also involve more risks. In contrast, nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation only cost a few hundred dollars.
Another factor to consider is time. A sedative service’s price often depends on how long you’re under its effects.
Still, you can get affordable sedation dentistry with our help. Roman Dental offers flexible financing through CareCredit, allowing patients to cover treatment with low-interest, monthly payments. That way, you can manage the costs over time instead of all at once.
Roman Dental on Memorial Drive in West Houston specializes in quickly stopping pain and making people feel relaxed and comfortable. Roman Dental repairs broken front teeth with cosmetic dental bonding, veneers, and ceramic crowns. Even teeth that must be extracted can be replaced with or without dental implants by Dr. Kotlarek and his team of dental technicians. Roman Dental offers same-day appointments to resolve toothaches and problems with sensitivity and discomfort. Additionally, this emergency dental care office provides root canal therapy, night guards for clenching, medicated fillings, and extractions when necessary.