Our top priority is to ensure that everyone in our office is comfortable and relaxed in our care. We recognize that some patients have dental fear or anxiety, and visiting the dentist office can be hard for them. Stone Creek Dental provides sedation dentistry as one of our general dental services. It benefits many different types of patients so that they can get the dental care they need.
Sedation Dentistry in Denton, TX
The sedation process differs depending on your level of anxiety and the procedure(s) you’re getting done. We’ll start with a consultation and discuss your issues when you visit the dentist office. It’s essential to know your level of anxiety or if you have problems with a bad gag reflex. The number and severity of procedures factor into the decision, too.
We also look into your medical history and ensure you can safely have sedation. Certain medical conditions may prevent sedation from being an option for you.
Types of Dental Sedation
There are multiple different types of dental sedation. The most mild form is nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. It’s the only sedation option where you can drive yourself to and from your appointment. It takes effect very quickly and dissipates quickly as well. You’re only under the sedation effect when you’re actively breathing in the gas. We place a cannula or mask over your nose so that you inhale it throughout the procedure.
Patients describe the feeling of this sedation as mild euphoria and an overall relaxed state. You won’t be completely under, but you won’t care about anything happening around you. You’ll feel normal again once you take a few breaths without the mask.
Oral conscious sedation uses a prescribed pill given before you come into the office for the procedure. Pills can be antianxiety medications or sedatives, depending on the level of anxiety. You’ll be conscious throughout the procedure but may fall asleep or don’t remember parts of it.
IV sedation is the deepest form of sedation. We only use it for patients with severe anxiety or those getting multiple intensive procedures in one sitting. You’re conscious but unaware of your surroundings and don’t remember the procedure. We monitor you throughout to ensure your vitals are good and the procedure goes smoothly.
Who Benefits From Dental Sedation?
Sedation is most commonly used for patients who suffer from dental anxiety. Dental fear occurs on a spectrum. Some patients may only have issues with certain sounds or dental tools, while others suffer from fear so debilitating they can’t even come in for a regular checkup. Avoiding regular dental care makes you more likely to have more severe dental problems in the future. Sedation allows patients who fear the dentist to get regular care or the more intensive procedures they may need from years of neglect.
But sedation isn’t only useful for anxious patients. Patients with movement disorders or young children may have issues getting the care they need successfully. Dentistry is delicate and uses sharp instruments. If the patient moves involuntarily, it is hard for the dentist to work safely. Sedation relaxes the involuntary movements so that you can get dental care safely.
This is also true for patients who have bad gag reflexes. A gag reflex fights the dentist throughout the entire treatment session. It also makes the procedure incredibly uncomfortable for the patient. Sedation relaxes the reflex, making treatment more comfortable for everyone involved.
We use dental sedation for patients getting multiple dental procedures in one sitting. It keeps patients relaxed and makes sitting in the dental chair for a long time easier. When patients are calm and sedated, we can perform our jobs more quickly and efficiently.
Schedule an Appointment
Sedation dentistry can benefit a wide variety of different patients. Call us to schedule an appointment and learn more.