Visiting the dentist can be stressful for a lot of people, especially those who suffer from extensive dental phobia. Here at ProSmiles Dental & Orthodontics of Hurst, we care about creating an environment where you can feel relaxed at all times. Some patients might need more help than others, which is where the multiple options for sedation dentistry in our Hurst, TX dental office come in. A well-chosen sedative will make it seem like all your worries have vanished, letting the rest of the appointment run smoothly. Give us a call to learn more about how you or your loved ones could benefit from sedation at your next appointment.
When oral sedation is selected for your dental procedure, you’ll be prescribed a special medication, which you’ll take at a set time before your appointment to put your mind and body in a highly relaxed state. You’ll remain awake during the treatment; you might doze off, but we can simply wake you up. That said, many patients end up not remembering the treatment at all and feel like they may as well have slept through the whole thing.
Dental offices have been using nitrous oxide for over a century now, and it remains an excellent option for those with mild to moderate dental fears. No preparations are required before your visit; you’ll simply be given a mask to wear over your nose. As you breathe in the sedative mixed with oxygen, you’ll start to feel very calm, and you’ll remain in that state for the entire appointment. Notably, once the mask is removed, you’ll recover quickly and will be in a position where you can drive yourself home or back to work to continue your day as normal.
Thanks to sedation dentistry in Hurst, it has never been easier for our team to take care of your teeth without the worry. However, if you have dental anxiety, chances are you might wish to learn more about sedation before you’re fully comfortable scheduling your appointment. Of course, a member of our team will happily answer your questions over the phone, but for now, it may help to browse this list of frequently asked sedation dentistry questions.
Nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation technically don’t “put you to sleep.” However, because your memory of the experience will likely be fuzzy, it may feel as if you had drifted off during your procedure even if you didn’t. There’s a small chance that you might briefly fall asleep, especially with oral sedation, but our team can gently nudge you awake if this occurs. That way, you can continue to respond to our requests during your treatment.
You shouldn’t feel pain while you’re being sedated. In addition to relaxing your mind, the sedatives that we use also suppress your body’s pain receptors. And, depending on the treatments we’re performing, we may numb your mouth with local anesthetic to prevent you from experiencing discomfort. Although you may feel some minor pressure as we work, outright pain should not be an issue.
When given and overseen by one of our experienced dental professionals, sedation dentistry is extremely safe. To minimize any risks, we’ll thoroughly evaluate your medical history as well as your current medications; this lets us know whether any negative interactions could occur. Additionally, our team will closely monitor you throughout your appointment as you’re being sedated. With nitrous oxide, we can even adjust the dosage in real time to keep you comfortable and safe.
Sedation dentistry has made it easier for countless patients to receive the care their smiles need. It can be particularly helpful if anxiety or fear has kept you from routinely visiting the dentist in the past, or if you need to undergo a lengthy procedure (or several smaller ones in a single sitting). Whatever the case may be, sedation dentistry can be a worthwhile investment. After all, getting the treatments you require now can prevent any existing oral health concerns from worsening and necessitating more extensive (and expensive) procedures down the road.
