Sedation Dentistry – Cleveland, TX
Stress-Free Tooth Replacement
We perform procedures like tooth extractions and dental implant placement surgery all the time here at New U Dentures and Implants. We understand that these treatments can cause a lot of people to feel nervous, which is why we’re happy to offer sedation dentistry. With it, we can prevent physical discomfort, calm racing thoughts, and ensure a patient stays completely relaxed on the journey toward their new smile. To learn more about how sedation dentistry in Cleveland, TX could benefit you, contact us today.
Why Choose New U Dentures and Implants for Sedation Dentistry?
- Friendly Dentist with Decades of Experience
- Sedation Can Be Perfectly Tailored for Each Patient
- We Always Put Patient Comfort First
Oral Conscious Dental Sedation
For patients struggling with intense dental anxiety, oral conscious sedation offers significant benefits as this sedative can be ingested prior to leaving their homes. This medication is typically administered in pill form approximately an hour before the dental procedure, inducing a state of relaxation by the time you arrive at our practice. Click on the button below for more insight into oral conscious sedation to determine if this method is right for you.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is incredibly popular due to its effectiveness in significantly enhancing patients' relaxation during dental visits. It yields far calmer effects than nitrous oxide while remaining milder than IV sedation and general anesthesia. If, after your initial consultation, Dr. Guillory considers you a suitable candidate for this medication, he will prescribe a pill for you to take before your next scheduled appointment.
The relaxing effects typically set in within an hour, ensuring that by the time you arrive for your visit, you should already experience a heightened sense of euphoria. Best of all, you will maintain enough consciousness to walk and respond to basic questions or commands, albeit feeling a bit groggy.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Patients undergoing oral conscious sedation often describe feeling in a "zoned-out" state, experiencing a dream-like sensation and tingling in their limbs. This method is typically recommended by our team for patients needing longer or more complex procedures, as it helps them stay calm and still, allowing for more efficient work.
Because the sedatives have a lasting effect, you will need someone to drive you to and from our office. We closely monitor vital signs during treatment to ensure safety. After the procedure, you may still feel heavy or groggy, but this should subside within a few hours. It's advised to have a friend or family member take you home so you can get plenty of rest for the rest of the day.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
To find out if you qualify for oral conscious sedation, simply schedule a consultation with our team. During this appointment, we’ll carefully assess your medical and dental history, address your concerns and smile goals, and determine if this option is right for you. In most cases, patients in good overall health are eligible for oral conscious sedation, provided they are not breastfeeding, experiencing respiratory issues, or facing other medical complications. This sedative is often recommended for patients who:
- Experience fears or anxiety related to dental appointments
- Feel uneasy about masks or needles
- Tend to delay or cancel appointments due to fear
- Require longer dental visits or complex procedures
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
While oral conscious sedation is often a good choice for patients with moderate to severe dental phobias, nitrous oxide sedation is usually preferable for those who only have minor dental fears and anxieties. Also known as “laughing gas”, nitrous oxide keeps you feeling relaxed and happy throughout your visit so that the sights and sounds of our practice don’t bother you. The information listed below can help you decide whether nitrous oxide sedation is a good choice for your next appointment at New U Dentures & Implants.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide is typically offered as a way to keep dental fears under control, but there are many different kinds of patients that might benefit from it. We may recommend nitrous oxide sedation if you:
- Are anxious about having any kind of dental work done.
- Are afraid of needles.
- Often have trouble sitting still while your mouth is being worked on.
- Suffer from sensitivity.
- Have a strong gag reflexthat can get in the way of dental work.
- Tend to have a hard time getting numb.
Note that before we move forward with nitrous oxide sedation, we’ll have to confirm that you aren’t taking any medications that might interfere with the process. Furthermore, we won’t recommend nitrous oxide if you’re pregnant, have sinus congestion, or suffer from any kind of respiratory disease.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide sedation is a very simple process. It requires little preparation, although you should avoid eating too much beforehand to minimize the risk of nausea.
At the start of your treatment, we’ll place a mask over your nose, then allow you to breathe in the nitrous oxide with oxygen. We’ll adjust the levels as needed so that you can breathe comfortably. Once you start feeling the effects of nitrous oxide, you’ll be so relaxed that you’ll be unbothered by anything that’s going on around you. However, you’ll still be awake and able to answer our questions.
At the end of your treatment, we’ll remove the nasal mask and wait for the effects to wear off. Unlike other types of sedation, the effects of nitrous oxide don’t linger, and you’ll be perfectly capable of driving yourself home or returning to work once your appointment is complete.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
There is no special aftercare that’s required for nitrous oxide sedation. You’ll simply need to stay at our office until you feel normal again, which typically only takes a few minutes. Since nitrous oxide wears off quickly, it doesn’t stop you from continuing with your normal activities.
Of course, this only applies to the nitrous oxide itself. Depending on what kind of treatment was performed, there may still be a recovery period to think about. Our team will give you whatever aftercare instructions you need to stay comfortable while your mouth is healing.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
How Long Does Dental Sedation Last?
For nitrous oxide sedation, the effects won’t last for very long. Once your procedure is done, it should only take about five minutes for you to recover to the point where you’ll be able to safely drive home on your own.
Oral conscious sedation is stronger than nitrous oxide, so the effects tend to last much longer. You should make arrangements to have a friend or someone in your family take you home. To stay on the safe side, we recommend staying out of the driver’s seat for at least a full day.
Does Dental Sedation Put You to Sleep?
No. Nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation do not put you to sleep; they simply help keep your mind and body in a relaxed state. Some people do drift off occasionally, but it’s easy enough for our team to wake them up as needed. With oral conscious sedation, you’ll often have little memory of the procedure, so to you, it might seem like you were asleep even if you were awake the whole time.
What are the Risks of Dental Sedation?
First of all, it’s important to remember that sedation dentistry is considered to be a safe option. Most people are able to undergo procedures with nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation without issue. However, there are certain groups who have an increased risk of complications occurring. For example, there are some medications that could interact badly with the sedative and cause problems. Additionally, sedation is often not a good choice for patients with sleep apnea.
Generally speaking though, side effects tend to be mild. Some people experience nausea, headaches, and (in the case of oral conscious sedation) grogginess afterward. These symptoms should normally wear off after several hours.
Will I Feel Any Pain with Dental Sedation?
Both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation can be used to help manage your discomfort during a given procedure. When under the effects of the sedative, your body will be less capable of registering pain. Additionally, sedation dentistry is often used along with a local anesthetic, which further reduces discomfort.
That is not to say you won’t necessarily feel anything while you’re being sedated. You may notice some pressure throughout your procedure. Nevertheless, sedation dentistry can go a long way toward keeping your pain to a minimum.