Sedation Dentistry in Richardson

Many practices tout the use of sedation dentistry to combat dental anxiety and phobia. While dental sedation is effective in countering these concerns, it is also useful in treating patients with numerous other concerns including:

• Sensitive teeth, gums, and gag reflex
• Necessity for numerous or complex oral health procedures
• Unresponsive to numbing with local anesthetic alone
• Cognitive impairment that makes medical care traumatic or stressful
• Physical impairment that causes patients to be extremely uncomfortable for extended periods of time in a dental chair

For these and other concerns, McDougal and Richards Dentistry of Richardson, TX offers a full range of sedation dentistry options including nitrous oxide, oral conscious, and IV sedation.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Nitrous oxide sedation is one of the oldest forms of sedation still in use. Nitrous oxide is sometimes referred to as laughing gas due to the euphoric effect it has on patients. Most patients report feeling calm or happy, experiencing significantly less pain or sensitivity, and feeling less discomfort during healing. Nitrous oxide is often preferred by patients as the effects are fast acting, dosage is controlled by the dentist throughout the procedure for optimal comfort, and effects wear off quickly so there’s no need for patients to be driven to and from the appointment.

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation is a favorite of patients with dental anxiety as relaxation begins before patients ever leave home. At an appointment prior to the procedure, the dentist prescribes an oral sedative that should be taken at a predetermined time the day of the appointment. The sedative begins to work before patients ever arrive at the office which means they will need a friend or family member to drive them to and from the office. During the procedure, patients should be in a heightened state of relaxation. While most patients are conscious throughout the procedure (as the name suggests), most patients report feeling like they are dozing. Additionally, the majority of patients experience an amnesiac effect reporting having few if any memories of their visit. Patients’ bodies breakdown the medications differently, but most begin to feel better a few hours after their procedure. However, it is recommended that patients not return to work or operating heavy machinery (including driving a car) for at least 12 hours after taking a sedative.

Intravenous (IV) Sedation

IV sedation offers patients a combination of the effects of nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. Like nitrous oxide, IV sedation allows the dentist to adjust dosage for maximum comfort throughout the procedure providing a more predictable result since patients metabolize medications differently. Like oral conscious sedation, patients report feeling as if they are dozing, and the majority of patients experience the amnesiac effect forgetting their visit. Patients will need to rest following their procedure and should plan to resume regular daily activities the following day.

Find Out More

If you’re interested in using any form of sedation during your next dental procedure, contact McDougal and Richards Dentistry to schedule a consultation or find out more today. Our Richardson, TX dentistry team looks forward to helping you get the smile of your dreams with optimal comfort and relaxation.