Is dental fear or anxiety keeping you from visiting the dentist? Patients can rest easy with sedation dentistry.
Dr. Glen Wainwright offers sedation dentistry in Austin, Texas to help relieve dental phobia. The comfort of our patients is important to our staff at Austin Dental Care. We make every effort to ensure that our patients can relax throughout all phases of their dental treatment. Patients with dental anxiety or fear of the dentist benefit from sedation dentistry because it is a pain-free way to receive dental care. Learn more about the benefits of this general dental solution.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is most common for patients that deal with dental fear or anxiety. Dental fear can make it difficult to come in for regular dental checkups. For some people, only certain things, like drills, trigger their fear of the dentist. Other people may fear the entire environment of the dental office in general, and avoid coming into the office.
However, if patients avoid preventative dental care, it leads to more extensive oral health issues down the road. This means longer and more invasive dental treatments rather than minor fixes. Patients with anxiety then have to sit through longer sessions to restore their oral health.
Sedation doesn’t only help patients with dental fear. If you need many surgical treatments or long dental procedures, this can help you complete all of them in fewer sessions. It’s also ideal for patients that have a bad gag reflex, as a reflex can fight the dentist as he’s trying to perform his work. Lastly, it can help patients that have movement disorders, or special needs, safely get the care that they need.
By using sedation methods, Dr. Wainwright can complete procedures faster. It helps relax both the gag reflex and the patient in general, making it easier to do work inside your mouth. It also helps to provide care that’s pain-free. If you have sensitive teeth or extensive damage to your teeth, it can be painful to get even standard care. Sedation helps take care of this.
Types of Dental Sedation
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide is a gas that has many purposes. You commonly see it in the medical field as an anesthetic and pain reliever, but you can also use it to make whipped cream or power hot air balloons. Nitrous oxide is not only a sedative but also as an analgesic and anxiolytic agent. Nitrous oxide provides sedation by decreasing anxiety, which can lead to less stress and discomfort.
Also known as laugh gas, the dentist administers this option using a nasal mask. The mask will cover your nose and mouth to slowly deliver the chemicals into your body. The nitrous oxide is very safe at low levels, takes effect quickly, and wears off within minutes. It will allow you to remain fully conscious during your dental procedures. It is a really good sedation method for children as well.
Oral conscious sedation
We use oral conscious sedation to help patients relax before they go into the dental chair. The dentist will prescribe oral conscious sedation by pill before treatment. Patients can take it about 20 minutes before their appointment to help them stay calm, and relax during their procedure.
The drug is not intended for use as a pain reliever or for any other medical condition. Do not take it with other drugs, alcohol, or medications. This can increase the risk of side effects and make the medication less effective. You will need a driver to take you to and from your appointment. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours after taking the pill because of the drowsiness you feel with this type of sedation.
Patients will remain conscious during treatment, but feel euphoric and groggy. You may not remember what happened during your procedure after the sedative has passed. You will need to have reliable transportation to and from your visit.
General anesthesia
General anesthesia (not to be confused with local anesthesia) works as a sleep-inducing sedative. Dentists generally reserve this type of sedation as a last resort. It is best for major oral surgery procedures, and patients with major issues that prevent them from cooperating.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is dental sedation safe?
Yes, dental sedation poses no harm to patients. We administer sedation at safe levels and are always monitoring you during treatment. Dental sedation has been in use for oral surgery procedures for decades. Our dentist can go over all concerns you may have about sedation dentistry during your dental exam.
How long do the effects of oral sedation last?
Oral sedation can last from two to eight hours depending on the level of sedation you receive. The length of your sedation effectiveness depends on the type of oral sedation we use. Nitrous Oxide lasts only until the end of treatment, before you leave the dentist office. IV sedation can take much longer to recover from.
What does oral sedation feel like?
You may experience a calming effect and may feel drowsiness or tingling sensations. Procedures with oral sedation are painless since your dentist uses sedation and local anesthetic in combination. Some patients report feeling very happy and carefree.
Is sedation safe for children?
Yes, however a dentist will only use sedation on children when necessary. Children with disabilities and mental health challenges that may prevent them from cooperating at the dentist benefit the most from sedation. General anesthesia is also safe to use to put children to sleep for dental procedures.
Call our Dentist in Austin, TX for Sedation Dentistry Today
Dr. Wainwright is a dentist near you in Austin, Texas that gives patients the high-quality dental care that they deserve. Call our dentist office at 512-330-0255 or request an appointment online. Austin Dental Care serves patients in West Austin, Barton Creek, Lost Creek, West Lake Hills, and Travis County, Texas.