Sedation Dentistry in Salinas: Patient Comfort
It is not uncommon to be terrified of the dentist. In fact, dental phobia prevents thousands of patients from visiting the dentist whatever the cost. However, neglecting your oral health automatically puts you at high risk for serious decay, gum disease, and, consequently, poor overall health. For patients who avoid the dentist out of fear or anxiety, consider learning more about sedation dentistry.
Rest assured you’re in good hands.
Oral Conscious Sedation (Children and Adults)
Oral sedation involves taking medication by mouth just before your appointment. This enables you to feel relaxed but remain conscious during your treatment so can answer any questions the doctor may have. The effects of oral sedation takes time to wear off, therefore you will need to make arrangements to have someone drive you home after the procedure.
Oral Conscious Sedation
For those with severe anxiety, we advise oral conscious sedation. This option offers deep relaxation through a sedative pill taken before your treatment starts. In doing so, it helps even the most tense and worried patients to receive the crucial dental care they need. Just note that an oral sedative’s effects will linger; you’ll likely need a friend or family member to drive you home from our office. If you’d like more details on the oral conscious approach, keep reading or call us.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Unlike other kinds, oral conscious sedation relies on sedatives ingested orally. These potent medicines ease strong to moderate anxiety and fear, being more “intense” than nitrous oxide gas. Oral conscious sedation is thus well-suited for patients with severe dental phobias or discomfort.
This sedation method is applied through a pill, not a face mask. A patient takes said pill just before their visit starts or right when they arrive. That way, it can relieve anxiety within fifteen minutes or less – the time it takes for your full treatment to start.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
It’s fairly simple to outline the oral conscious sedation process. Since the latter doesn't rely on many resources or tools, most dentists consider it an easy dental method to implement.
Again, oral conscious sedation works through a pill. This medicine’s effect is to produce a deep level of calm, so much so that some patients don’t recall their care afterward. Dr. Hajradi only proceeds with your treatment once that profound relaxation takes hold of you. As he does so, he’ll also monitor your body’s responses to ensure your safety.
Rest assured that oral conscious sedation won’t put you to sleep. On the contrary, it should leave you awake and alert enough to respond to Dr. Hajradi’s instructions. The only wrinkle is that this sedation method will leave you dizzy or woozy even after your treatment. Therefore, you should have someone you trust drive you home from your visit. You can then expect the pill’s effects to fade in a few hours.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Whether you’re a child or an adult, you’ll likely qualify for oral conscious sedation. This service’s only major requirement is that you have decent physical health. If your body is in fairly good shape, you can undergo the sedation without any big complications.
Of course, this sedation does help some folks more than others. The best candidates for it usually have one (or more) of the following:
- Strong dental fear, anxiety, or nervousness
- A need for many dental procedures or one long treatment
- An overly sensitive gag reflex
- A habit of rescheduling dental visits due to unease
- Poor prior dental experiences
- An inability to keep the mouth open during treatment
- Bad reaction to local anesthesia
Even as you consider the signs above, please consult us to confirm your candidacy. Our team will assess your medical history to learn if oral conscious sedation suits you.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Do you struggle with dental-related anxiety, even surrounding routine dental checkups and cleanings? Good news: we can make any stress, worry, or nerves you’re experiencing disappear with nitrous oxide sedation! This calming solution (often referred to as “laughing gas”) has been used for decades, and it has proven to be effective at helping patients stay comfortable and completely at-ease in the treatment chair. If you are interested in learning more about it, then read on or get in touch with us to schedule an appointment.
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
As we mentioned above, nitrous oxide is great for patients who struggle with dental-related anxiety. That said, there are other uses! This type of sedation dentistry is also helpful for those who have a sensitive gag reflex, a fear of needles, experience head/neck/jaw pain in the treatment chair, or have a disability that makes it difficult to get the dental care they need. In other words, nitrous oxide is quite versatile. So, if you are interested in adding it to your treatment plan, let us know! From there, we can review your medical and dental history before determining if you’re a good candidate for this calming solution.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is administered through a nasal mask. We’ll ask you to breathe in through your nose and, within a few minutes, you’ll begin to feel any anxiety you’re feeling melt away. Once you’re completely calm, comfortable, and ready to begin, we will provide you with the preventive, restorative, or cosmetic dental care you need. Throughout your entire time in the treatment chair, Dr. Hajdari will control the amount of nitrous oxide you receive, ensuring you are safe and comfortable every step of the way.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
Once we’re finished, we will switch off the nitrous oxide and remove the nasal mask. Within a few minutes, the effects will completely subside. Since you won’t experience any lingering grogginess or drowsiness, you can even drive yourself home from your appointment! All we ask is that you follow the aftercare instructions related to the treatment you received, like not eating for 30 minutes after a fluoride treatment or rinsing periodically with warm saltwater after a root canal. Of course, if you have any questions, you can always give us a call as well.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Can dental sedation make you sick?
At our dental office, we offer nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. It’s unlikely that you will start to feel sick after receiving dental sedation. However, there is a slight chance that you may feel nauseous after receiving either of these. Nitrous oxide is less likely to cause you to experience side effects, so your chances are greater with oral conscious sedation, but you do not need to worry about it being long-lasting. It’s best if you do not eat in the hours before your appointment, as this can make nausea more likely.
Does dental sedation make you tell secrets?
If you’re worried that you’ll be divulging all of your secrets to your dentist during your appointment, don’t worry. Dental sedation is not a truth serum. It is used to help you relax and avoid the stress and concern many patients have with oral healthcare. If during your appointment you do say something that you would otherwise not divulge, don’t fret, as our team keeps everything within confidence. What is said in the treatment room stays there.
How much does sedation dentistry cost?
When it comes to nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation, they may only cost a few hundred dollars, which is significantly less expensive than IV sedation or general anesthesia. Because oral conscious sedation does require more training to administer, there is the chance for a greater risk, which means that the cost for this type of sedation is likely to be more than nitrous oxide. However, the cost of sedation is usually determined by how long you are under the effects, specifically with nitrous oxide.
To pay for sedation dentistry, you can apply for one of the available financing plans through CareCredit, which is a third-party company that does not have any surprise fees. They offer low- and no-interest financing to make paying the full amount out-of-pocket a non-issue. Instead, you can choose a plan that matches your budget and pay over time.
Is sedation dentistry safe while pregnant?
It is possible for the medicine that is administered to pass onto your baby if you are pregnant. You will want to make sure that you avoid dental sedation during your first trimester, as this is the most pivotal time for your baby’s development, which means that it could pose a problem if provided during this time. Also, you will want to delay treatment until after your baby is born if you are considering oral healthcare during your third trimester, as it can cause premature labor.
The safest time to receive dental sedation is during the second trimester; however, any invasive procedures that you may need will need to be postponed until after you’ve had your baby. The best option for sedation while pregnant is nitrous oxide because it poses virtually no ill side effects.