Sedation Dentistry – San Antonio, TX
Staying Relaxed During Your Visit
It never fails; whenever it’s time to go to the dentist, you’re consumed with feelings of anxiety, sometimes to the point where you consider skipping the appointment altogether. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Dental anxiety affects millions of Americans, and it can potentially serve as an obstacle to getting the care they need. Dr. Patel can help nervous or frightened patients feel at ease about their visits thanks to oral conscious and nitrous oxide sedation. Call today to learn how you could benefit from these options for sedation dentistry in San Antonio, TX at future treatments.
Why Choose HIC Dental - Implant & Family Dentistry for Sedation Dentistry?
- Multiple Forms of Sedation Available
- Compassionate, Gentle Dentist and Team
- Convenient Hours, Short Wait Times
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is meant to put patients with advanced dental fears into a highly relaxed state where they’re comfortable with everything going on around them; it’s also useful for helping patients sit still for longer treatments. You’ll take a pill about an hour before your appointment so that you’ll already be feeling the effects by the time the treatment starts. Plan on having someone else bring you to our dental office and drive you home afterward. Our team can go more in-depth about this sedation option during your consultation.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
This is a form of sedation dentistry that is designed to help patients who experience moderate to higher levels of dental-related anxiety. Dr. Patel will prescribe you a pill that will provide an effect similar to nitrous oxide—only more powerful—which will allow you to feel even greater comfort and relaxation during your appointment/treatment. Our team will instruct you on how to take the medication and the exact time to take it so that the intended side effects occur at the proper moment just before your visit.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
We will walk you through the details of this sedation option during your consultation, as we’ll need to discuss your future procedure and how this treatment fits into play. At a certain time before arriving for your scheduled appointment, you’ll be tasked with taking the oral conscious pill so that the effects can kick in.
You should begin to feel drowsy and even euphoric, as the medication will help you feel completely relaxed and stress-free. While technically awake, you’ll be capable of responding to simple questions and commands by our team while we work on your smile. Our trained experts will monitor your vitals and breathing the entire time to make sure you’re safe.
Oral conscious sedation usually lasts much longer than nitrous oxide, meaning you can end up feeling the effects of the pill several hours after your appointment. For this reason, you’ll need to arrange for a friend or family member to take you to and from the dental office.
Who is a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Patients who struggle with the following complications are generally the ideal candidates for oral conscious sedation:
- Moderate to high levels of dental anxiety or fear
- Strong or sensitive gag reflex
- Difficulty staying still for long periods
- Physical disability that makes it hard to sit comfortably
- Experienced a traumatic dental experience
- Requires extensive dental treatment or multiple procedures
Of course, the only way to know for certain if you’re eligible for this sedation option is by visiting our team for a consultation. We’ll review your dental and medical history to see if this treatment is safe for you.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, has helped people of all ages receive needed oral healthcare despite dental anxiety for more than a century. Using this sedative during a dental appointment can help the patient undergo a needed procedure without causing any lingering side effects, and the gas is eliminated from the body within minutes after the treatment is over. This safe and effective dental sedation method will induce a sense of calm and wellbeing and reduce your sensitivity to pain while leaving you fully awake and able to respond to Dr. Patel’s questions and instructions. Since the effects of laughing gas will fade away within minutes of the end of the treatment, you can expect to be able to drive yourself home or back to work afterward.
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide is a safe and minimally invasive sedation treatment for patients who deal with issues like:
- Dental phobia
- Anxiety about needles
- Trouble sitting still in the treatment chair
- Sensitive teeth
- An overactive gag reflex
- Issues receiving other sedative options
However, nitrous oxide is not for everyone. The treatment is typically not recommended for pregnant women, and respiratory issues like nasal congestion may make it difficult for a patient to receive enough of the gas to achieve the desired sedative effect. In these cases, Dr. Patel may recommend an alternative sedation treatment.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
For dental sedation, nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen and administered through a hose attached to a mask placed over your nose. Some patients notice a sweet taste when receiving the treatment, and the gas should begin taking effect within a minute or two. You will continue to feel the sedative effect as long as you continue to receive the gas, and it will be eliminated from your body within minutes after the treatment ends. Some patients may experience some mild dizziness or nausea afterward, but these issues will fade away within minutes. The treatment has no long-term side effects, and you’ll be able to drive yourself home after your appointment.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
While nitrous oxide has no long-term side effects, you’ll need to wait a few minutes for the short-term effects to wear off after treatment. This is to ensure that you can safely navigate your way away from our San Antonio office, and you should be able to resume your normal daily activities at home, work, or school afterward. This can make nitrous oxide sedation an especially excellent choice for patients with tight schedules, and Dr. Patel will be certain to provide you with any aftercare instructions you need to avoid complications afterward.