Grapevine, TX 76051
(817) 481-1041
Sedation Dentistry – Grapevine, TX
Easing Your Family’s Dental Fears
Whether you’re young or “young at heart,” it’s normal to have a bit of dental anxiety. Roughly 36% of all Americans – kids included – have some fear of dentistry and its treatments. Even so, you shouldn’t let this nervousness keep you from dental care; that’ll just ruin your oral health. The good news is that Smiles by Martin has sedation dentistry here in Grapevine! With its help, Dr. Martin will ease your worries and make your treatment calm and smooth. Find out more by reading below or get the details at an in-office consultation.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide is one of the oldest sedatives used by dentists. When applied through a nasal mask, this “laughing gas” quickly calms patients and reduces their stress levels. The result is a mildly euphoric mood that relaxes and prepares you for dental work. That effect fades just as fast once the nasal mask is removed, as nitrous oxide wears off swiftly. Patients can thus resume their normal activities right when their treatment wraps up.
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
There are a wide variety of people who can benefit from nitrous oxide sedation during their dental appointments, including those who:
- Suffer from dental-related fears or anxieties.
- Have a strong gag reflex.
- Experience tooth sensitivity.
- Can’t hold their jaw open for long period of time.
- Experience jaw, neck, or back pain while sitting in the examination chair.
- Find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time.
However, nitrous oxide is not recommended for patients who are pregnant, have elevated blood pressure, or glaucoma. Your safety is our top priority, so Dr. Martin will carefully go over your medical history for any potential complications before recommending nitrous oxide.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide is so well-known for how it helps patients feel light and content to the point of giggling that it’s more commonly known as laughing gas. This light form of sedation utilizes a careful combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen that’s delivered through a small mask placed over the nose. Almost immediately, your anxiety will melt away and you’ll feel completely relaxed and at-ease.
All throughout your treatment, your Grapevine dentist will carefully monitor how much nitrous oxide is administered to ensure you are as comfortable and safe as possible. Most patients feel so calm that they doze off. However, while you’ll remain conscious throughout your appointment, you won’t be aware of any sights, sounds, or feelings that would otherwise cause you to feel anxious.
Nitrous Oxide Aftercare
One of the advantages of nitrous oxide is that its effects wear off very quickly once the gas has been removed. After a few minutes of waiting in our dental office, you’ll be able to drive yourself home or back to work. Some patients might feel nauseous afterward, which is why we recommend eating only light meals before receiving this type of sedation. (In general, avoid eating anything heavy for at least three hours prior to the procedure.) Other possible side effects include dizziness or headaches; we might offer some water or some oxygen to help the recovery process along.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Unlike nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation has you take a pill just before your treatment. This sedative will "kick in" when you arrive at our office and leave you very relaxed for several hours. In fact, it's intense enough that a friend or family member should drive you to and from your visit. You’ll then need to rest for 24 hours from the time you took the pill. For these reasons, we suggest oral conscious sedation for patients with moderate to severe dental anxiety.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is the ideal option for patients who need more than nitrous oxide (laughing gas), but don’t want IV sedation or general anesthesia. Instead of taking some of the edge off or putting you completely to sleep, this method will keep you in the comfortable sweet spot in-between so you can relax while our sedation dentist in Grapevine does what he does best! That way, feelings of anxiety don’t get in your way of pristine oral health and a beautiful smile.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Oral conscious sedation follows a simple step-by-step process. First, we’ll provide you with a prescription sedative once you book your visit. You’ll take this pill about an hour before you arrive at our office. Next, you’ll have a friend or family member drive you to your appointment. We’ll then ensure you’re comfortable and monitor your vitals as the sedative takes effect. Before treatment, Dr. Martin will also ask how you feel and confirm whether you’re ready for care. The rest is simply a smooth treatment – you’ll feel time pass quickly and be heading home before you know it!
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Feelings of anxiety are often associated with the need for oral conscious sedation. However, you should also consider this option if you are uncomfortable in a dentist’s office, are experiencing tooth pain but don’t like the sound of dental work, had a traumatic experience with a dentist in the past, and other similar situations. We are proud to be a judgment-free office, and we will do our absolute best to make you feel taken care of throughout the entire process - from your first phone call to your follow-up visits.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is the most potent kind of sedation we offer, as it’s dispensed directly into your bloodstream. This option quickly makes you feel deeply calm and relaxed, ensuring your care is comfortable. Though it should leave you awake, it can prompt some patients to doze off at times. Either way, a friend or family member will need to drive you to and from our office. They should also monitor you for at least a few hours as you recover.
What is IV Dental Sedation?
If you experience high anxiety when visiting the dentist’s office or are preparing to undergo one or more complex dental procedures, we can offer IV sedation. Administered directly into your bloodstream via your hand or arm, the medication helps to minimize your anxiety and allows you to fully relax, even entering into a dream-like state, while receiving necessary treatment.
Not only is IV sedation safe and effective, but it allows you to remain cognizant enough to respond to cues from our dental team, but don’t be surprised if you experience slight amnesia after your procedure is complete.
Because the effects of IV sedation do take time to wear off, you will need to have someone escort you to and from your appointment.
Who is a Good Candidate for IV Dental Sedation?
Dr. Martin will likely recommend IV sedation if you exhibit any of the following:
- Require one or more complex procedures to be completed at one time
- Have experienced past dental trauma
- Are prone to gagging and have difficulty remaining still during an exam or procedure
- Have a difficult time reacting to other methods of sedation (i.e. nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation)
It is necessary for Dr. Martin to go over your medical history before clearing you for IV sedation as well as your current list of medications.
The Benefits of IV Dental Sedation
Through IV dental sedation, you’ll enjoy many great benefits. These include:
- Temporary Amnesia – By causing a deep state of relaxation, IV sedation keeps you from forming traumatizing dental memories. This effect should make you more willing to visit your dentist in the future.
- Fast-Acting Effects – Since it’s delivered directly into the bloodstream, IV sedation has effects that occur very quickly.
- Sedative Control – Unlike with oral conscious sedation, IV sedation lets us control the flow of medication.
- Better Oral Health – Due to helping people get dental work they’d otherwise avoid, IV sedation can greatly improve a patient’s oral health.
Making Sedation Dentistry Affordable
While you may worry about its price, sedation dentistry can be affordable with the right approach. Many dental insurance plans now offer full or partial coverage for its great services. Given that fact, our team will gladly maximize your benefits and ensure cost-effective care. It’s also worth noting that some sedation options are covered by medical insurance. Some plans will cover the medicine used for oral conscious sedation, while others can apply to IV sedation when it’s medically necessary. Lastly, you can even trust our CareCredit financing program to spread out your treatment payments.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
What’s the Difference Between Sedation and Sleep Dentistry?
We use sedation to keep you relaxed and comfortable while you are still conscious. Sleep dentistry uses general anesthesia to render you completely unconscious during the procedure. We use sedation instead of this option because it can sedate you enough to receive treatment without some of the after-effects of general anesthesia.
Can I Drive Myself to My Appointment and Receive Sedation?
Your transportation plans will depend on the type of sedation that you’re receiving. One of the benefits of nitrous oxide sedation is that it allows patients to relax during the appointment while still being able to drive to and from the dental office. However, you should plan to have someone take you to your appointment if you choose either oral sedation or IV sedation. Both of these options are stronger than nitrous, but they have lingering effects that can impair motor skills.
Can Sedation Dentistry Cure My Dental Anxiety
We use sedation as a way for our patients to manage their anxiety, however, it is not a cure. This temporary sedation allows us to give you the dental care that you need to keep you healthy, but your own anxiety can’t be cured with sedation. There are many therapists that specialize in treating dental anxiety, which is a great place to start if you wish to get to the root of the problem. For many patients, their mild fear is automatically eased by simply knowing that they have sedation as an option.
What Type of Sedation is Best for Me?
The only way to know which type of sedation is best for you is to visit our dental office. Dr. Martin and his team will discuss your needs and explain the different types in detail to provide you with the best service for you. Even those without dental fear or anxiety enjoy sedation services because it makes the time go by faster and creates a relaxing sensation
If it sounds like sedation dentistry is right for you, contact our dental office to receive quality care in a relaxing environment.