If you suffer from dental anxiety or fear of the dentist, you are not the only one. We have many patients who avoid vital dental care due to this. Because of this, we provide sedation dentistry, sometimes called sleep dentistry, for our patients who have anxiety surrounding visiting the dentist. Flower Mound Family Dentistry is a local dentist office that offers sedation dentistry in Flower Mound, TX to reduce anxiety and fear in patients so they receive the dental care they need.
The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
The benefits of sedation dentistry extend to both the patient and the dentist. It creates a more favorable and less stressful dental environment. These benefits include:
Anxiety Reduction: One of the primary benefits of sedation dentistry is its ability to reduce dental anxiety and fear. This allows patients who might otherwise avoid the dentist to receive necessary dental care comfortably.
Less Stressful Dental Visits: Feeling anxious throughout an entire appointment can be challenging for the patient and the staff. Sedation helps ease the patient’s nerves and makes the visit calm for everyone involved.
Enhance Procedure Efficiency: With the patient at ease, the dentist can work quickly, efficiently, and with greater precision. This can be especially helpful with complex or long procedures.
Pain Management: Sedated patients manage pain and discomfort better during their appointments. This is beneficial for patients with a low pain threshold.
Encourages Regular Dental Care: Patients who have a positive experience with sedation are more likely to keep up with their regular dental appointments.
Reasons Why Patients Use Sedation Dentistry
- Dental Anxiety and Fear: Fear of dental procedures is a common barrier to seeking treatment. Sedation offers a way to receive necessary dental care without stress.
- Low Pain Threshold: Individuals who are sensitive to pain can benefit from sedation, which makes them more comfortable during treatment.
- Complex Dental Problems: For complex dental work that requires long appointments, dental sedation can make the experience more bearable.
- Difficulty Staying Still: Patients who cannot remain still, including children, can receive dental care more easily with sedation dentistry.
- Strong Gag Reflex: For patients with a strong gag reflex, sedation dentistry can help relax the reflex, allowing dentists to work more efficiently and without causing discomfort to the patient.
Types of Dental Sedation Methods
Flower Mound Family Dentistry offers both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. Both methods will help you feel calm and relaxed while receiving the dental care you need. In most cases, you will not remember much from your dentist appointment.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation involves taking a prescribed sedative pill about an hour before your dentist appointment. Depending on the dose, it can range from mild to moderate sedation. The medication will allow you to remain awake but feel significantly more relaxed and may have little to no memories of the procedure. We often suggest this type of dental sedation for patients with mild to moderate anxiety and for procedures that do not require a deep level of sedation.
Nitrous Oxide
More commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is inhaled through a mask that we place over your nose. When you inhale it, the gas will induce a euphoric feeling that helps you relax. One of the key advantages of nitrous oxide is that the effects wear off quickly after we remove the mask at the end of treatment. You will be able to drive yourself to and from your appointment. It’s suitable for mild sedation and we can adjust it in real time to ensure your comfort.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Read answers to these common questions to learn more about sedation dentistry in our Flower Mound, TX office:
Is dental sedation safe?
Yes, before each treatment that requires sedation, we will review your medications, allergies, and medical conditions. When we provide sedation, we can easily reverse its effects if needed. When we provide nitrous oxide, we dose patients based on their age, weight, and size. Our dental office takes precautions to ensure your safety under sedation.
Can children get dental sedation?
Yes, some types of dental sedation are safe for children. In some cases, children may need lengthy or complex dental treatments that require sedation. We often recommend laughing gas for younger patients because it offers a milder form of sedation. Our team will provide the correct amount of sedation for each child.
Can anyone get sedation?
Not everyone can get dental sedation, but most people can. Our dentist will check your health and medical history to make sure it’s safe for you. Some health conditions, like certain heart or lung problems, might make sedation risky. Also, pregnant women and people with allergies to certain medications may not be able to use dental sedation. We will talk to you about your options and help you choose the safest way to stay comfortable during your dental visit.
Are you asleep during sedation?
It depends on the type of sedation. With mild sedation, like laughing gas or oral sedation, you stay awake but feel very relaxed. With deeper sedation, like IV sedation, you may be so relaxed that you might not remember much of the procedure, but you’re not fully asleep. General anesthesia is the only type that puts you completely to sleep, but it’s usually used for major surgeries, not routine dental work.
Does dental sedation have side effects?
Yes, after treatment with sedation, you may feel tired, lightheaded, or dizzy. Some patients may feel nauseous after treatment. Taking medication as prescribed and resting after treatment will help treat these side effects. We also recommend that you get a ride to and from our office when you get sedation for your safety.
How long does it take to recover from sedation?
The recovery time from sedation depends on the type. If you have nitrous oxide (laughing gas), you’ll feel back to normal just a few minutes after the dentist stops giving it to you. With oral sedation, it can take a few hours for the effects to wear off. You might feel groggy or sleepy, so you’ll need someone to drive you home. Most people feel fully recovered by the next day.
Will dental sedation impact my ability to drive after my procedure?
You will need someone to drive you to and from the dental office if you take oral sedation. This is because you need to take the sedative as a pill before your visit. It will also take time for the sedation to wear off after your procedure.
It can be safe to drive after you get nitrous oxide. This sedation wears off quickly, so you can safely drive from the office.
Will my insurance cover sedation?
Whether your insurance covers dental sedation depends on your plan and why you need it. If the sedation is for something medically necessary, like a complicated surgery, your insurance may cover the cost. However, if it’s just to help you feel more comfortable during a routine procedure, your insurance might not offer coverage. Check with your dentist and insurance provider to see what they will cover before your appointment.
Contact Us Today to Learn More about Sedation Dentistry in Flower Mound, TX
Sedation dentistry offers so many benefits for our patients. It addresses anxiety, fear, and other issues so patients no longer have to stress about going to the dentist.
If you want to get your oral health back on track, call us today to discuss your dental sedation options. We offer several forms of sedation dentistry in Flower Mound, TX. You can reach us at 972-848-8745 or you can request an appointment online.