The thought of visiting the dentist makes many patients feel anxious. A fear of loud noises or pain keeps many patients from routine dental visits. However, Argyle Family Dentistry ensures patients get dental care without pain or discomfort. Dental sedation can keep you calm and relaxed. We provide sedation dentistry in Argyle, TX, for more comfortable and anxiety-free dental treatment.
As a part of general dental care, sedation is useful for tooth removal, cleanings, and implants. You will not feel anything. During your treatment, you may also not be aware of what’s around you.
Pain-Free Treatment at the Dentist
Dental sedation is a valuable tool to ensure you do not feel discomfort during treatment. Sedation has many benefits, including:
- Pain-free treatment; while you may feel sensation, you will not feel discomfort.
- In some cases, you have little to no memory of your procedure.
- Quicker treatment–we do not need to pause as often. It will also seem like your treatment passes quickly.
- Anxiety-free treatment if you have a gag reflex, a fear of loud noises, or a fear of dental tools.
In addition to sedation, we take a patient-focused approach to dental care. If you have dental anxiety or a fear of the dentist, contact us before your first visit to our office. We can help accommodate you.
Our dental office understands that many patients may have negative past experiences at the dentist. We want to put dental fears to rest. Sedation helps us care for you without constant pauses in treatment. You can receive treatment quicker and without any pain or anxiety.
Even outside of procedures that require sedation, our dentists can provide accommodation. We encourage you to bring music to listen to during treatment. You can also bring a stress ball to help distract you.
Types of Dental Sedation
The right treatment for you depends on your dental procedure, anxiety level, and medical history. Learn more about sedation dentistry in our Argyle, TX office by learning about each common type of sedation:
Nitrous Oxide
This type of sedation is also known as “laughing gas” because it can make you feel happy or giggly. We mix nitrous oxide with oxygen and place it through a tube. You breathe the gases through a mask over your nose and mouth.
Under this sedation, you are awake but relaxed. It also takes moments to reverse the effects of laughing gas. This means you can drive yourself from our office after treatment.
IV Sedation
During IV sedation, we administer anti-anxiety medication through the bloodstream. Also known as twilight sedation, you will feel sleepy or drowsy during treatment. However, you will remain awake but deeply relaxed. IV sedation is best for longer treatments and helps patients who have severe anxiety.
It takes time for IV sedation to wear off. You will need a ride to and from our office.
Oral Conscious Sedation
You take this sedation as a medication one hour before treatment. Because it takes time to wear off and take effect, you will need someone to drive you to and from our office. Once you reach our office, you will feel the effects of the medication. While awake under this sedation, you will not feel pain. You can also respond to us if we provide directions.
Is Sedation Dentistry in Argyle, TX, Right For Me?
Before recommending sedation, we will consider the following:
- Medical history
- Allergies
- Current medications
- Medical conditions
Our office will customize your care to your needs. For example, if you have a fear of needles, we will consider laughing gas or anti-anxiety medication over IV sedation.
We may not recommend sedation if you have sleep apnea or breathing problems. Sedatives slow breathing down, which can make these problems worse.
If you have liver and kidney problems, we will not recommend anti-anxiety medication. Patients with poor liver and kidney function cannot metabolize this medication.
We will also ensure that you are not allergic to the medications we use for sedation. Our office will recommend another treatment method if you have an allergy.
However, sedation can benefit patients with:
- Low pain tolerance
- Poor gag reflex
- Dental anxiety
- A fear of pain
- Fear of the dentist
We will find the right treatment for comfortable care. If you have dental fear or anxiety or need lengthy treatment, we can help.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Learn more about comfortable dental care with answers to these common questions:
Is sedation safe?
Yes, for many patients, sedation is safe. Our office will also confirm any medical conditions or medications that can interact with sedation. We will not recommend any sedation that can trigger health problems.
During treatment, we can control the amount of sedation you receive. We can also reverse the effects of sedation by removing the mask or providing a different medication. Our trained professionals will ensure you are safe and comfortable during treatment.
Can children receive sedation?
Yes. Laughing gas is safe for children. Before treatment, we will review your child’s medical history. We will also review their current medications and medical problems before treatment.
Laughing gas is the least invasive sedation for children. Dentists can easily control the amount of laughing gas. Our office follows guidelines to ensure comfort.
Can I get sedation if I’m pregnant?
We only recommend sedation in your second trimester. Some medications can affect your body in different trimesters. If you receive sedation during the first trimester, you can experience development problems. During the third trimester, you may be at risk of preterm labor.
We may recommend numbing the mouth for more minor treatments. Generally, we recommend cleanings and other routine treatments for pregnant women in their second trimester.
What are the side effects of sedation?
You can experience one or more of these side effects after your treatment:
- Sleepiness
- Nausea
- Headaches
We will recommend that you rest at home after lengthy procedures. These procedures, including tooth removal or implant treatment, will require more time under sedation.
What should I avoid after sedation?
While you can go back to normal life after a short, routine treatment, you usually want to rest. After mild to deep sedation, avoid:
- Driving
- Exercise
- Smoking or using other tobacco products
After a long treatment, you want to rest as much as possible. Staying home, keeping your mouth healthy, and sleeping also will help you feel comfortable as you heal.
Will I feel anything under dental sedation?
In most cases, you will not feel anything. However, you will feel sensations if you receive light or moderate sedation, including laughing gas. Normally, you can feel the lightest pressure from the dental tools. However, you will not feel pain. Under deeper sedation, you will not remember your treatment. You will also not feel anything during your procedure.
Get Comfortable Dental Care
Pain-free dental care is possible with sedation dentistry in our Argyle, TX, dental office. Call Argyle Family Dentistry at 940-531-9753 . You can also schedule a dental appointment with us on our website. Please contact us if you have any other questions. We’re here to help.