Sedation Dentistry – Arlington, TX
Relieve Dental Anxiety & Enjoy Your Dentistry Visits
Fear of the dentist is a common problem, and one that countless adults suffer with constantly. At Foundation Dental Solutions, we understand this issue very well, but we also want to make sure that people receive the regular care they need to maintain the healthy, beautiful smile they deserve. That’s why Dr. Douglas Baldwin offers multiple sedation dentistry options for mild to severe cases of dental phobia. Your comfort is our priority, and we’re happy to do whatever we can to help you feel truly at ease during treatment, using sedation dentistry in our Arlington, TX dental office.
Our sedation choices include the following:
Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a gentle yet highly effective form of sedation dentistry. It provides a safe and comfortable option for patients who experience anxiety about visiting the dentist. With no lingering side effects, most people can expect to return to their regular activities immediately following their appointment. To find out if this option is right for you, continue reading.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation?
Nitrous oxide is a great choice for patients with mild cases of dental anxiety who simply need a little extra comfort. However, should you find yourself experiencing any of the following conditions, you may benefit greatly from this method of sedation:
- Sensitive gag reflex
- Difficulty getting numb
- Mild to moderate dental anxiety
- A past traumatic dental experience
- Discomfort sitting in the dentist’s chair
- Tooth sensitivity
- Fear of needles
If you’re considering nitrous oxide, be sure to schedule an appointment with Dr. Baldwin. Our team will need to review your health history and ensure you are a suitable candidate for this type of sedation.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation Work?
Nitrous oxide is a gas that’s administered through a mask that fits over your nose. While seated in the dentist’s chair, you’ll slowly begin to breathe in the gas. Within minutes, you should be experiencing feelings of warmth and comfort as we work on your smile.
Although patients typically remain conscious, they experience a deep sense of comfort, free from pain or anxiety. Once the gas is turned off and the mask is removed, its effects wear off quickly, allowing you to return to normal shortly after.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation
One of the most significant benefits of nitrous oxide is that it typically causes no major side effects. In fact, most patients experience no issues after using this type of sedation. After finishing your treatment, and the nitrous oxide is turned off, patients can usually drive themselves home or back to work and immediately resume their normal activities. Since there are no lingering effects, it’s a popular choice for those seeking a safe and convenient sedation option.
Oral Conscious Dental Sedation
Dental visits may not be on anyone's list of favorite activities, but for some patients, dental fear and anxiety make it a much more serious concern. Many people struggle with these feelings, and it can become a significant issue when it prevents them from receiving necessary dental care. That’s why we offer oral conscious sedation! This simple method helps you relax, providing comfort and peace of mind during your visit.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is ideal for adults who experience anxiety, fear, or discomfort in the dental chair. There are no needles or face masks involved – Dr. Baldwin will simply prescribe a small pill to take before your appointment. By the time your treatment begins, you’ll already feel calm and relaxed. Since the effects of the medication are long-lasting, it may take a while for them to fully wear off after your visit.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
For cases of more severe discomfort or fear, oral conscious sedation may be the best option. We’ll provide you with a prescription for a sedative to take at a predetermined time before your appointment. You’ll also need a trusted friend or family to bring you to our office.
The effects of the medication help patients enter such a deep state of relaxation that, while they’re technically awake and able to respond to commands during the procedure, they tend not to remember anything about their visit once it’s over. You’ll also need your escort to take you home afterward and keep an eye on you for the rest of the day. By the next morning, you should be completely back to normal.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
We typically recommend oral conscious sedation for patients with moderate dental fear or anxiety. It strikes the perfect balance of being stronger than nitrous oxide but milder than IV sedation. This method of sedation is also an excellent option for patients with an overactive gag reflex or difficulty keeping their jaw open during treatment. Even if you don’t consider yourself particularly anxious, oral conscious sedation is a great choice if you’ve had a recent traumatic experience and simply want to relax during your visit.
IV Sedation
For patients with very severe anxiety, we tend to advise IV dental sedation. This kind is the most potent form of sedation dentistry, offering effects more intense than those of nitrous oxide or medicinal pills. It works by administering a strong sedative directly into your bloodstream, all while you’re monitored in real-time by the dental team. The result is a near-instant sense of deep relaxation, ensuring you feel profoundly calm for your care. For more details on IV sedation, please keep reading or call us soon.
What is IV Sedation?
As the most powerful type of sedation dentistry, IV sedation isn’t like nitrous oxide or sedative pills. It essentially takes a more “direct” approach to keeping patients calm.
IV sedation (per its name) administers sedatives intravenously, or directly into a patient’s bloodstream. Its medicine thus “kicks in” more quickly compared to other sedation types, causing strong feelings of relaxation in very little time. Just know that it still leaves you conscious and aware of your surroundings; you’ll just feel much more euphoric and relaxed than usual. Also, the sedative’s effects may cause a temporary amnesia that makes you forget bits of your treatment.
Notably, the effects of IV sedation last longer than those of other sedation options. That means you’ll want to have a friend or family member take you to and from your visit. You won’t be able to operate vehicles for at least a few hours, so preparing a driver beforehand is crucial.
Who is a Good Candidate for IV Sedation?
IV sedation suits some dental patients more than others. As such, whether it’s right for you will depend on your own unique situation.
For the most part, IV sedation is ideal for patients who need prolonged care or have intense anxiety. Such people benefit from how it “speeds up” the perception of time, as well as its ability to significantly reduce high levels of dental fear. Otherwise, IV sedation can also help patients who struggle with a strong gag reflex, TMJ disorder, or other neuromuscular conditions. By altering your body’s internal chemistry, it’d ease the signs of such problems and help you keep your mouth open for extended periods.
Of course, only a dentist will know if you’re a good IV sedation candidate. You should thus consult your dental provider before committing to any sedatives.
The Benefits of IV Sedation
If you visit our office for IV sedation, you can expect to enjoy many perks. The most common of these include the following:
- Fast-Acting Effects – Since it administers medicine into the bloodstream, IV sedation is very fast-acting.
- Deeper Comfort – Compared to nitrous oxide or pills, IV sedation can provide you with a deeper calm that makes your treatment even more pleasant.
- Improved Oral Health – Thanks to IV sedation’s calming effects, it helps patients who’d otherwise skip dental care get crucial treatments.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
As a matter of fact, yes – sedation dentistry is perfectly safe! Patients can receive dental sedatives without fear of potential bodily harm.
Most people today can handle nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” just fine. Out of all sedation options, the latter is known for being incredibly mild and safe. Nitrous oxide gas doesn’t result in any long-lasting side effects that could damage your body. On the contrary, it’ll just keep you nice and calm for the duration of your treatment.
As for oral conscious and IV sedations, dentists take solid precautions. They’ll review your medical history and current medications to ensure these options won’t harm you. Later, the dentist and their team will closely monitor your vitals to ensure you remain safe.
Am I a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
Only your dentist will truly know if you’re a good sedation candidate. That said, some signs and situations can imply you’d be a good fit.
Aside from anxiety, several factors serve as good reasons to get sedation. Someone could be a good candidate if they have a low pain tolerance, a sensitive gag reflex, or difficulties sitting still. Sedation also suits patients getting extensive dental work they’d like done in one sitting.
Patients who are pregnant or who have other medical conditions may not be good candidates. Often, such people would benefit more from alternative relaxation methods.
What are the Side Effects of Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry’s side effects are usually mild and harmless. However, you’d still do well to keep them in mind.
The most common ones include the following:
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Chills (shivering)
- Confusion, haziness
- Dizziness
Rest assured that these effects (when present) are short-lived. Within a day at most, they’ll disappear as the sedative medication wears off. You can then reap sedation’s long-term benefits for your grin!
Is Sedation Dentistry Worth It?
All things considered, sedation dentistry is definitely worth it. The field’s various sedatives can make your dental work smoother, easier, and more effective.
Sedation can impact whether your smile gets some truly crucial dental work. As such, it often saves you time and money otherwise spent on more invasive treatments – root canals, extractions, etc. That means you can view sedation dentistry as a solid, long-term investment.
Plus, sedation can make a procedure much less stressful for you. The result is a dental visit that you’re more likely to enjoy and benefit from!