What are My Options When it Comes to Sedation Dentistry?

Do you find yourself unable to sleep the night before your dental appointment? Has anxiety kept you from visiting the dentist regularly? Did you know that sedation dentistry may be able to help you overcome your fears and receive the dental treatments you need in a comfortable and relaxing manner? We’re answering some of the most common questions we hear about sedation dentistry. Read on!

Do I Have Multiple Options for Sedation Dentistry?

We are proud to say that the answer to this question is yes! Whether you just need to “take the edge off” to get through your appointment, or you need deeper relaxation to complete your treatment, we have options for you.

• Nitrous oxide: This is a gas that you receive while wearing a mask during your dental procedure. This allows nitrous to enter and exit your system quickly, which means that it doesn’t have lingering effects. Also called laughing gas due to the euphoric feelings it produces, nitrous helps you feel calm and at ease in the dental chair.
• Oral conscious sedation: This type of sedation provides deeper relaxation even though you are still conscious and responsive. It’s administered through a pill that you take one hour before your procedure, and it’s an excellent option for patients with more severe anxiety or who might want to complete more complex or multiple procedures at one time.

Does Insurance Cover Sedation Dentistry?

Unfortunately, most dental insurance plans do not cover sedation dentistry because they consider it to be an elective. If you have questions about your own insurance coverage, your dentist’s financial coordinator will be happy to help determine what your out of pocket cost might be for sedation dentistry.

How Long Does Sedation Dentistry Last?

Nitrous oxide exits your system quickly, as soon as your mask is removed so it’s safe for you to drive yourself home and resume normal activities.

Oral sedation tends to last longer due to the nature of the medication. For this type of sedation, it is required that you have transportation arranged both to and from your appointment, and you should plan on relaxing for the rest of the day after your procedure

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Nitrous oxide is one of the longest used sedation methods for dentistry. It is safe for both children and adults and it can be used during most procedures.

Oral conscious sedation is prescribed by your dentist and is also very safe. Most patients feel very relaxed as if they were sleeping, and the amnesic affect that the medication has means that you won’t remember most of your appointment.

Would you like to learn more about your options for sedation? Give your dentist in Odessa a call today.

About the Author

Drs. Franklin and Stephen Boyles are your talented team of dentists at Boyles General Dentistry. For over forty years this practice has been taking care of patients in Odessa, TX. Patients will find not only a friendly and welcoming environment, but also options for sedation dentistry to help them feel comfortable and at ease at our office.

If you would like to contact our dentists, they can be reached by calling 432-366-0896 or through our website.