Sedation Dentistry – North Dallas
Alleviating Dental Anxiety with Safe, Comfortable Sedation Dentistry
Fear of the dentist is common, but it needn't prevent you from achieving a strong, healthy smile. Dr. Robert B. Mitchell uses sedation dentistry in North Dallas to alleviate dental anxiety and promote a positive dental care experience. He offers oral conscious sedation as well as nitrous oxide sedation. Both methods are safe and effective, and they have been used by millions of people to achieve strong, beautiful smiles. Come in for a consultation, and we’ll help you determine if sedation dentistry is right for you.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Many people know nitrous oxide as “laughing gas.” This calming form of sedation dentistry has been extensively tested, and it’s considered safe for a wide range of patients, including those who struggle with mild to moderate dental-related anxiety. So, if you deal with immense stress or worry prior to your appointments (or you forgo essential care because these feelings are so overwhelming), there’s a good chance that nitrous oxide is the solution you’ve been looking for. To learn more about it, read on or give us a call!
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Here at North Dallas Cosmetic Dentistry - Robert B. Mitchell, we administer nitrous oxide dental sedation in North Dallas to enhance patient comfort. So, if you struggle with dental-related anxiety, you have a sensitive gag reflex, or you experience head/neck/jaw pain in the treatment chair, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to find out if you’re a good candidate for sedation dentistry.
Note: If you are not a candidate because you’re pregnant, you’re allergic, or you have trouble breathing through your nose due to a condition like asthma, then we will work with you to find an anxiety-alleviating alternative.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
After you're comfortably seated in the dental chair, we’ll position the nasal mask. Then, we will ask you to breathe in and out through your nose, inhaling the nitrous oxide in the process. Within a matter of minutes, you will begin to relax, feeling any anxiety, stress, and worry melt away in the process. You’ll be awake the whole time too, so asking questions and responding to the prompts we give you will be easy. We’ll also control the amount of nitrous you receive to ensure you’re completely safe and completely comfortable.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
Once we’re done working to maintain, restore, or enhance your smile, we will turn off the nitrous oxide. The effects will quickly subside, so you won’t have to deal with lingering grogginess. In fact, it’s safe for you to drive yourself home following the visit, and you can continue your daily activities as normal! If you have any questions throughout the afternoon or the following morning, you’re more than welcome to give us a call too.
If nitrous oxide sounds like the calming solution you’ve been looking for, then it’s time to take the next step: schedule an appointment! That way, we can determine if you’re a candidate and, if you are, add it to your treatment plan.
Oral Conscious Sedation
If you qualify for oral conscious sedation, Dr. Mitchell will prescribe a sedative for you to take prior to your appointment. You'll feel groggy, so you should plan to have a friend or family member drive you to and from our dental office. By the time you get to the dental office, you will feel perfectly relaxed. You will remain conscious during your entire procedure, so you will be able to answer questions and follow Dr. Mitchell’s instructions. You probably won’t remember much of your dental visit, and the effects will take some time to wear off. By the next day, you should feel completely back to normal.
What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is generally recommended for adults who have anxiety or fear related to the dental office. It is also sometimes an option for those who find it difficult to undergo dental treatment for other reasons. There are no face masks or needles necessary. Instead, you are prescribed a small pill to take about an hour before your appointment. By the time your procedure begins, you will be perfectly relaxed and ready for your dental treatment.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Once the effects of the pill kick in, you will feel a deep sense of relaxation. Some patients don’t even remember their visit afterward. However, you will stay awake throughout the whole treatment, so you will still be able to answer questions and follow the instructions of your dental team. The effects of oral conscious sedation can linger, so you will need to plan for a trusted friend or family member to take you to and from your appointment.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation can benefit various patients. It may be a good option if you:
- Have dental anxiety/phobia
- Have negative previous dental experiences
- Have a long dental procedure
- Need multiple treatments at once
- Having difficulty sitting still
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Struggle to become numb from local anesthetics
- Regularly cancel dental visits due to anxiety
Am I a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
The best way to determine if sedation dentistry is right for you is by discussing your medical history, anxiety levels, and other factors with your dentist. This way, your treatment can be safely catered to meet your unique needs. Sedation dentistry can help patients who struggle with the following.
- Dental Anxiety: If you struggle with dental anxiety, sedation options can help you to feel more relaxed during your treatment.
- Increased Sensitivity: Sedation dentistry can be used for patients with particularly sensitive teeth or gums.
- Overactive Gag Reflex: If smells, tastes, or the presence of dental tools in your mouth make you gag easily, sedation dentistry can help to reduce this.
- Long Procedure: Even if you don’t have dental anxiety, sedation dentistry can help to improve your experience if you have a particularly long procedure coming up.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is sedation dentistry covered by insurance?
Typically, sedation dentistry is classified as a “luxury” treatment by dental insurance providers. As a result, it isn’t covered. With that said, there are some exceptions, so it’s important to read through the fine print on your plan. You might be surprised to learn that you don’t have to pay for the cost entirely out of pocket if you need extensive dental care, like multiple tooth extractions.
Is sedation dentistry worth it?
If you do end up having to pay for sedation dentistry entirely out of pocket, then you might be wondering if it’s really worth it. If you struggle with a fear of needles, head/neck/jaw pain in the treatment chair, or dental anxiety, then the answer is likely “yes!” After all, even the mildest form of dental sedation (nitrous oxide) can effectively calm your nerves, stress, and worry, allowing you to relax comfortably in the treatment chair while we work to maintain, restore, or enhance your smile.
How long does dental sedation last?
That depends on the type of dental sedation you receive. The effects of oral conscious sedation typically last the whole day, which is why patients need to arrange for an adult they know and trust to drive them to and from our office. Conversely, the effects of nitrous oxide dissipate within a matter of minutes.
Can dental sedation make you sick?
It’s very rare for patients to experience nausea with nitrous oxide because it’s so mild. Since oral conscious sedation is stronger, it can happen. That’s why our sedation dentist in North Dallas often recommends fasting beforehand.
Note: If you have any questions, including whether or not you should eat before coming to our office, don’t hesitate to give us a call! We’re here to answer any questions you have so your experience is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Does dental sedation make you tell secrets?
This is a common misconception about dental sedation, largely due to how it’s portrayed in movies and TV shows. The truth is that it’s very unlikely that you will share a deep, dark secret during your time in the treatment chair. Plus, even if you do share something you usually wouldn’t, you don’t have to worry – it won’t leave the walls of the treatment room.
Will I remember anything with dental sedation?
Although patients are technically awake with most forms of sedation, there’s a chance that you won’t remember anything. For many patients, the memory loss effect helps form a more positive association with going to the dentist, especially if they’ve had a negative experience in the past.
What does it feel like to be sedated at the dentist?
Again, the answer depends on the type of dental sedation you’re receiving. The effects of nitrous oxide, for example, are typically described as relaxed, light, and euphoric. Oral conscious sedation, on the other hand, results in an even deeper sense of relaxation, which often causes patients to drift off to sleep.
