Do you have dental anxiety? If so, our dentists may recommend laughing gas or oral sedation to help you relax in the chair.
We understand that going to the dentist may not be your favorite thing in the world, which is why we provide options for sedation dentistry.
We want to make sure you get the dental care you need to maintain a beautiful healthy smile.
Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, is safe for patients of all ages, including children. Unlike other types of sedation dentistry, it’s quick to work and wear off, so you’ll be able to return to work or school without any side effects.
During the procedure, we’ll place a mask over your nose that supplies nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen. This will help you feel relaxed, yet aware and awake during the procedure. That way, you’ll be able to comply if your dentist needs you to tilt your head or open your mouth wider to access a tooth.
As soon as we remove the mask, the nitrous oxide will begin to wear off immediately.
We offer oral sedation if laughing gas isn’t enough to help you relax. Before your appointment, your dentist will give you a prescription. Make sure you follow the directions for the medication and have someone else drive you to and from our office.
During oral sedation, you’ll feel sleepy yet still be awake. If you do happen to fall asleep during the procedure it will be light enough that we can gently shake you awake. After the procedure, you’ll need some time to recover from the sedation.
If your child had oral sedation, you’ll need to keep them home from school and keep an eye on them for the rest of the day.
When most people think of sedation dentistry, they think of dental anxiety. It’s true: most of our patients request sedation because they’re nervous or even fearful of dental treatment — especially if they’ve had bad experiences with a past dentist.
Good candidates for sedation dentistry are patients who:
Yes! At Parkside Dental Team, the safety and comfort of our patients are our top priorities. Before administering any type of sedation, we review a patient’s medical history to identify any conditions that may increase the risk of complications from sedation, such as sleep apnea.
Our thoroughly trained dentists and support staff carefully monitor patients throughout treatment. This helps to ensure that their visit with us is safe and stress-free.
Patients who opt for mild sedation with nitrous oxide will notice the effects of the gas wear off quickly, and will be able to drive after treatment.
The effects of oral sedation (pill sedation) are more long-lasting. It’s our strict policy to only release patients who have undergone oral sedation into the care of a family member or friend who can make sure they get home safely.
Although you’ll remain awake during sedation, you should feel completely relaxed and pain-free (though some patients do report feeling pressure).
Our dentists will also take great care to treat your teeth and gums as conservatively as possible. This allows us to reduce the likelihood that you’ll feel any pain once your sedation has worn off.
