Countless millions of people struggle with some degree of dental anxiety or fear. If you are among them, you can be confident that our team has great compassion for you, and we do not want you to dread your visits to our Woodbridge office! That is why we offer convenient and effective sedation dentistry. With the help of sedation techniques, you may be able to stay calm and relaxed for even the most intensive procedures. How does sedation work, and what are its benefits? Continue reading below to find out, or contact us directly to request a consultation.
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is administered through a special nasal mask. As you breathe it in, it induces feelings of calmness and relaxation. We can adjust your level of sedation throughout your procedure, and once we finish working on your smile, the effects of the nitrous oxide should wear off within minutes. That means you can go right back to your daily activities without worrying about being groggy or “out of it.” Nitrous oxide is an excellent provision for patients who are interested in light sedation or who need treatments of moderate complexity.
Before providing you with nitrous oxide sedation, our team will make sure it is a low-risk provision for you. It can be great for both children and adults who:
On the other hand, nitrous oxide is not usually recommended for pregnant people or those with certain allergies or respiratory conditions.
Nitrous oxide does not involve the use of any pills or needles. In fact, we simply place a special nasal mask over your nose and use a nearby machine to administer a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen. Within just a minute or two of breathing it in, you should start to feel its effects. Many patients start to feel relaxed or perhaps even a little giddy.
We can adjust your level of sedation throughout your procedure. Once we remove your nasal mask, the sedation will wear off very quickly. In fact, you should be alert enough to drive yourself home and go back to your normal activities.
Although the effects of nitrous oxide do not linger for very long, we will still ask you to stay in our office for a few minutes so we can monitor you as the sedation wears off. We want to verify that it is safe for you to drive home.
Some patients have a slight headache or other side effects after nitrous oxide, though these are usually mild and temporary. You should be able to resume your normal routine. However, it is still important to follow other aftercare instructions for whatever dental procedure you underwent. For example, you may need to get extra rest or eat a modified diet.
With oral conscious sedation, all you have to do is take a prescribed pill shortly before your treatment is scheduled to begin. As the medication takes effect, you should start to feel calm, relaxed, and potentially somewhat drowsy. This option is more powerful than nitrous oxide, making it suitable for patients with a lot of anxiety or who need particularly complex care. You can expect to remain comfortable throughout your treatment.
The effects of oral conscious sedation can linger for several hours after your appointment, so you should arrange to have a trusted adult drive you to and from our office. Once it wears off, you may have no memory of your dental procedure.
8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 12:00pm
*1st Saturday of the Month
You are being directed to a secure payment site.
Redirecting in seconds...