Dental anxiety delays many patients from getting basic services, like cleanings and fillings, until action is demanded because of discomfort or swelling. Roman Dental softens dental care with three sedation options: nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV twilight sleep. This dental office in Houston is focused on delivering high-level comfortable care.
Nearly 73% of U.S. adults are afraid of going to the dentist, according to a 2025 survey published in The Journal of the American Dental Association. Many of us avoid checkups until pain, sensitivity, or swelling forces a visit. That’s not good. Hesitation lets small problems, like a cavity or a cracked tooth, balloon into a bigger issue. Dentistry, at its best, centers around prevention and early care. Small problems are simpler to treat, the repairs last longer, they look better, can be done more quickly and cost less to accomplish.
At Roman Dental we can help with anxiety and fear. This West Houston dental clinic offers sedation to remove that barrier. Dr. Roman Kotlarek keeps you calm and comfortable throughout treatment, so putting off care out of fear isn’t necessary. 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, root canals, extractions and implants. Here’s what patients can expect from our sedation dentist and team:
Our team takes the time to explain treatment options and expectations beforehand, this lessens anxiety.
Roman Dental accepts dental insurance and offers financing: Cherry, CareCredit, Affirm and credit cards. This helps to make sedation dentistry fit your budget.
From nitrous oxide to IV twilight sleep, every sedation option is monitored closely by our team to keep you safe and comfortable.
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.
For patients who want a memory-free and profoundly relaxed visit, this 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.
At the end of your treatment, 100% pure oxygen is delivered. This removes all of the nitrous oxide from your body and provides a boost of energy allowing patients to drive and carry on with the days agenda. Most patients head straight back to work, child care, or other routine activities.
Oral conscious sedation uses a sedative tablet taken about thirty minutes 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. Additionally, during the appointment, time appears to pass quickly which makes the dental visit seem brief.
IV sedation, often called twilight sleep, is the most effective and controlled form of sedation dentistry. It keeps you fully relaxed and typically without memory of the procedure. For safety and control during sedation: heart rate, EKG, blood pressure, capnography and oxygen saturation are continually monitored. Dr. Roman Kotlarek is one of the few dentists in West Houston offering IV sedation for all general dentistry procedures, from implants and root canals to crowns, gum treatment, and cosmetic work.
Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective method of anesthesia for the majority of patients. However, like all medical procedures, it carries some risk. Openly share your medical conditions so that anesthesia can be tailored to your individual needs. Patients with sleep apnea, certain medications, or unique health conditions will receive a modified anesthesia plan. In all situations, your health is reviewed before recommending a sedation option. During IV and oral sedation, we continuously monitor your vital signs to optimize safety and comfort. The most common side effects are nausea, headaches and tiredness.
You won’t feel pain during dental sedation, though you will notice sensations of pressure because the most popular methods of dental office sedation keep you awake and responsive. Nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation all reduce your body’s response to discomfort. Additionally, local anesthetic is often added for more complete comfort. Depending on the procedure, patients at our West Houston office consistently describe treatment under sedation as far more comfortable than they expected. Depending on the type of sedation, patients can experience a fully relaxed memory-free dental experience.
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 widely based on the type of anesthesia provided. Additionally, for patients with dental or medical insurance the out-of-pocket cost can vary a great deal.
In most cases dental insurance will cover sedation when more than two teeth are impacted or when multiple non-impacted teeth require “surgical removal”. For patients visiting dental practices in the 77079 zip code area of West Houston, Roman Dental, an office that provides all types of sedation, has a flat nitrous oxide fee of $85. Methods of deeper sedation such as oral sedation have costs affected by the duration time of treatment. The deepest level of sedation provided at Roman dental has a base fee of $740 for the first hour of intravenous sedation. In most situations oral surgery treatments involving implants, wisdom teeth removal, deep gum cleanings and root canals are completed during a one hour appointment.
Affordable sedation dentistry at Roman Dental is always available. Flexible financing through Cherry, CareCredit and Affirm have a simple application process. This makes it possible to 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
