Sedation Dentist – Dublin, OH
Comfortable Treatments with Sedation Dentistry
Dental patients who are apprehensive about visiting the dentist now have a highly effective way of experiencing stress-free dentistry with oral sedatives from the sedation dentist in Dublin, OH. If you have postponed dental treatments or checkups because of fear or anxiety, talk to Dr. Buck about whether nitrous oxide or oral conscious dental sedation is right for you.
Why Choose Distinctive Smiles of Dublin for Sedation Dentistry?
- Multiple Forms of Sedation in One Place
- Team Known for Excellent Customer Service
- Children and Adults Both Welcomed
Oral Conscious Sedation
Patients who struggle with mild or moderate dental anxiety or fear might require the likes of oral conscious sedation to help them stay relaxed during a dental procedure. If you’re planning to undergo extensive or complex treatment, our team can prescribe you a pill that you’ll take some time before your appointment so that you’re as calm as possible before beginning your treatment. After oral sedation, patients tend to leave our Dublin dental office with little or no memory of the appointment, meaning you’re more likely to have a stress-free experience.
What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?
This form of sedation dentistry involves taking a prescribed pill that is designed to relax the nerves and keep patients calm before undergoing complex or extensive procedures. In most cases, we’ll instruct you to take the sedative a certain amount of time before your arrival, allowing plenty of time for the medication to take effect. After 15 minutes or so, you should start to feel your body relax, and you’ll be calmer while getting the dental care you need.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Nervous patients can experience a deeper level of relaxation with oral sedation while still technically remaining conscious during their visit. For instance, you’ll be able to respond to minor questions or commands from your dentist, but you’ll typically feel somewhat drowsy and euphoric. During the procedure, our team will constantly monitor your comfort to ensure that you are safe and comfortable throughout your appointment.
Since oral sedation can last for several hours longer than your appointment, you won’t be able to drive yourself to or from the office. Instead, you’ll need to arrange for a family member or trusted friend to do this. After returning home, be sure to get lots of rest and avoid strenuous activity for the remainder of the day.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Here’s a look at situations where oral conscious sedation can be especially helpful:
- Individuals with an overly sensitive or pronounced gag reflex
- Patients who find it hard to remain still during dental visits
- Those who experience anxiety or fear around dental care
- Anyone who’s had a stressful or unpleasant dental experience before
- People who struggle to keep their mouths open for extended periods
- Patients who have difficulty achieving numbness with local anesthesia
- Those needing several treatments or longer, more complex procedures
Nitrous Oxide Sedation Dentistry
This mild sedative is a gas that patients breathe through a mask during treatment. The effects are felt almost immediately, and they begin to dissipate just as quickly once a procedure is complete. If you choose nitrous oxide, you will be able to drive yourself home from the appointment without impairment.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Our team will want to ensure that every patient feels as comfortable as possible during their dental procedures. For that, we offer a mild and effective way to do this with nitrous oxide sedation, which is typically used for those who struggle with dental anxieties or fears. Of course, other reasons you might be eligible for this form of sedation are if you:
- Have trouble sitting still during appointments
- Struggle with a strong gag reflex
- Are fearful of needles
- Have difficulty getting numbed via local anesthesia
In most cases, nitrous oxide is a safe method of sedation for the majority of patients. However, those who are pregnant, have sinus congestion, or have certain respiratory conditions could potentially be ineligible to receive the medication. Our team will do our best to find an alternative way to help you feel at ease during your visit.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide involves patients wearing a nasal mask that’s attached to a machine. The device is designed to gently allow you to breathe in a gas that’s a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide, which will help you relax during your appointment. After a few minutes or less of breathing it in, you should expect to feel entirely comfortable and even euphoric or almost drowsy.
Our team will then monitor your vitals to ensure you’re safe and relaxed while undergoing your treatment. Once you’ve finished, we’ll remove the nose mask, and you should feel the effects of nitrous oxide begin to wear off after several moments. Since you’ll feel back to normal at the end of your visit, you should even be able to drive yourself to and from the office.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
Even though the effects of nitrous oxide fade quickly, our team will still request that you remain at the office for a few minutes after your appointment so that we can monitor you. We’ll need to make sure that you’ve had plenty of time to recuperate so that you can safely take yourself home. Also, you should still be able to continue your daily activities after receiving laughing gas, so you won’t have to worry about a lengthy recovery time. Depending on the complexity of your dental treatment, you might have to take it easy for a while, and don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you notice anything abnormal or uncomfortable after your appointment.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
In the majority of cases, sedation dentistry should be completely safe. From the various sedation options out there, nitrous oxide is typically the safest one, and most people who undergo this type usually handle it without issues. Our team also offers oral conscious sedation, which is a more powerful version, and we’ll typically have a qualified team member monitoring your vitals during your visit so that we can ensure your safety. Before moving forward, your dentist will review your medical history and note any medications you’re currently on to check if there might be any negative interactions with the sedative.
Will I Remember Anything with Dental Sedation?
If you receive nitrous oxide to be sedated, then you should usually be able to remember everything that happened throughout your dental visit. You will only feel more relaxed and prepared to undergo your treatment. However, if you take oral conscious sedation, then you might experience an almost euphoric state where you are completely calm and potentially drowsy. While you will not technically be asleep, you can sometimes expect not to focus on or remember some parts of your procedure, which can help make it easier for patients to get dental care, especially if they struggle with dental-based anxiety or have had negative experiences in the past.
What Does it Feel Like to Be Sedated at the Dentist?
The feeling of being under sedation will heavily depend on the type of sedative you receive. With nitrous oxide, which is the mildest option, most patients claim to feel quite calm, light, and euphoric. Some even giggle during their visit, which is why this solution is also referred to as “laughing gas.” Your arms and legs might also feel some slight tingling sensations. Oral conscious sedation is much stronger than nitrous oxide, which often means it will make you more relaxed for a longer period of time. Many patients even have difficulty not getting drowsy, as this method can make a person feel “heavy” and likely to doze off during their appointment. Time might even feel like it passes by quicker, making your experience much more pleasant in the end.
Is Sedation Dentistry Covered by Insurance?
Since most dental insurance companies consider sedation dentistry to be an elective treatment similar to cosmetic dental services, you might not always expect them to offer coverage for it. Of course, there may be some exceptions depending on the specific case, such as a patient who suffers from a disability that makes it difficult for them to receive the dental care they need. If you require extensive dental treatments, such as multiple tooth extractions, then it’s possible to receive some assistance. That’s why you’ll want to consult your insurer so that you understand the details of your policy and what can help you. Our front desk team will also be very happy to help you navigate your benefits so that you can save as much money as possible.
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