At Albright Family Dental, we understand the challenges patients face when
preparing for an upcoming dental appointment. When faced with mild,
moderate, or severe dental anxiety, it can be tempting to call and
reschedule or cancel your visit altogether. Unfortunately, this can and will
lead to worsening oral health problems that require additional time and
money to fix. Fortunately, with the help of
sedation dentistry in Everett,
Dr. Kaopua
and our team can help you become more comfortable and relaxed, allowing for
a smoother, more enjoyable experience. To learn more about the sedation
options available in our office, contact us today to
schedule an appointment.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Also known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is an ideal sedation method for patients who suffer from mild dental anxiety. Safe for both children and adults, it can help to lessen many of the most common fears patients face when visiting the dentist’s office. Whether you require a general checkup and cleaning or a simple dental filling, nitrous oxide can help you feel more at ease during your appointment. If you want to learn more about this calming solution, you can reach out to our Everett dental team to schedule an appointment or read on!
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Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Since nitrous oxide is mild, the large majority of patients are candidates. Of course, we still need to learn about your medical and dental history before administering it. If you are pregnant or have a condition that makes it difficult to breathe, then we will need to find a different solution. If, on the other hand, you simply struggle with dental-related anxiety, a fear of needles, dental sensitivity, or something similar, then this may be the answer you’ve been looking for!
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
When preparing to undergo nitrous oxide, your sedation dentist in Everett will place a small mask over your nose and ask you to inhale the colorless, odorless gas. The mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen will take effect within minutes, causing you to feel calm, relaxed, and as if you are floating. Because nitrous oxide does not “put you to sleep,” you will remain cognizant enough to respond to cues from your dentist and dental team. Plus, we can adjust the nitrous throughout your appointment as needed!
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
Once the gas is turned off, the effects will begin to immediately dissipate. As a result, you can resume your normal day-to-day activities immediately following your appointment! This is one of the greatest benefits of nitrous oxide and one of the many reasons it is a great option for younger and older patients alike.
Note: If you received extensive restorative or cosmetic care, then we will give you aftercare instructions, like rinsing periodically with warm saltwater to ease inflammation. As always, if you have any questions related to your treatment or nitrous oxide, you’re more than welcome to give us a call!
Oral Conscious Sedation
When nitrous oxide isn’t enough to curb your dental anxiety or you
require more complex dental work, Dr. Kaopua can recommend oral conscious
sedation for eligible individuals. During your initial appointment, you will
receive a prescribed oral medication, which you will take hours before your
procedure. Because it will cause you to become a bit groggy, you’ll
need to have someone escort you to and from your appointment. By the time
you reach our dental office in Everett, the effects will cause you to feel
completely relaxed and comfortable, allowing our team to begin your
procedure immediately.
Much like nitrous oxide does not put you to sleep, neither will oral
conscious sedation. Instead, you will remain coherent enough to respond to
cues but will unlikely remember much, if anything, from your appointment.
This unique benefit makes oral conscious sedation an appealing option for
many adults.
After Dr. Kaopua is finished with your procedure, you will need someone to
take you home, as the effects will take a few hours to wear off.
Am I a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
If you are healthy but show signs of any of the following, there is a good
chance that Dr. Kaopua will recommend you for sedation dentistry:
- Past traumatic experience involving a dental procedure or dentist
- Fear of needles
- Inability to sit still for extended periods of time
- Preparing to undergo multiple or complex dental procedures
- Sensitive or strong gag reflex
-
Mild to severe dental anxiety that prevents you from receiving regular
dental care
It is important that you go over your medical history with our team when you
arrive for your consultation. This will help us to determine if any health
concerns might make you ineligible for treatment.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
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Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
When administered by professionals trained in their use, sedatives are perfectly safe for all kinds of patients. While there are risks associated with any drug, we’ll look over your entire medical history in order to make sure that you don’t have any existing oral health issues that could make sedative use problematic. We’ll also closely monitor your vitals for the duration of treatment to ensure that you’re in good condition.
What Does it Feel Like to be Sedated at the Dentist?
This naturally depends on the kind of sedation that you’re receiving. Milder sedatives, like nitrous oxide, cause you to feel light and relaxed. The name “laughing gas” is pretty fitting, as many patients report getting the giggles while under the influence of the drug.
Oral conscious sedation, on the other hand, may cause you to feel heavy and induce deeper relaxation. Time will pass quickly and many patients even doze off during the procedure.
How Much does Sedation Dentistry Cost?
The price varies by the sedative you’re receiving, with stronger sedatives tending to cost more. Typically, nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation should only cost you a few hundred dollars.
It’s good to note that nitrous oxide is billed by the hour, which means that longer procedures involving this sedative will cost more. This is in contrast to oral conscious sedation, which only entails taking a single pill.
Is Sedation Dentistry Worth It?
Obviously, if you’re someone who struggles to make it to the dentist’s office otherwise, sedation dentistry could be more than worth it for you. However, there are other worthwhile uses for it besides just managing anxiety.
Sedatives allow patients to sit still for longer periods, making conducting several procedures in a single appointment much easier and more efficient. If planned properly, you could save a lot of time and energy by making good use of dental sedatives.
