If you or a member of your family feel anxious during dental procedures, our team at Aaron B. Pitts, DMD can help with sedation dentistry in Pine Valley, California. Don’t let dental anxiety get in the way of receiving the care you need! Call our office at 619-473-8735 today to learn more about our sedation options and to schedule your appointment with our dentist, Dr. Aaron Pitts.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is a therapeutic treatment dentists use to help patients feel relaxed and comfortable during their visits. It’s especially helpful if you feel anxious about dental procedures or nervous about treatment. There are a few ways sedation can be administered: you might take a small pill, breathe in nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas), or receive medication through an IV. These methods help to calm your nerves and make the experience much more pleasant, almost like you’re in a dream-like state. This way, you can receive the dental care and attention you need without having to experience the stress and discomfort.
What are the Benefits of Sedation Dentistry?
The advantages and benefits of dental sedation apply to both patients and dental providers. For patients, it helps to alleviate anxiety and fear associated with dental visits, making it easier for people to undergo necessary treatments without stress. This is especially helpful for those with dental phobia or previous negative experiences.
Secondly, sedation can increase your personal comfort during procedures by minimizing aches and pains. With sedation, you no longer experience every sound, smell, and movement. This makes the time pass by much more quickly, making longer or more invasive treatments feel shorter. It’s also beneficial for patients with a low pain threshold or heightened sensitivity. Lastly, dental sedation allows dentists to perform procedures more efficiently and effectively, as relaxed patients are less likely to move or require breaks. Overall, it enhances the overall experience by promoting relaxation, comfort, and cooperation during dental care.
Who is a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
A good candidate for dental sedation is someone who experiences significant anxiety or fear about dental procedures. If the thought of visiting the dentist makes you extremely nervous or if you’ve had previous traumatic dental experiences, sedation can help. It’s also beneficial for people with a low pain threshold, sensitive teeth, a strong gag reflex, or difficulty sitting still for long periods. Dental anesthesia, which includes methods like oral sedation, nitrous oxide, and IV sedation, can make the entire process much smoother and more comfortable.
If any of the following statements accurately describe your situation, then sedation dentistry might be a good choice for you:
- High anxiety or fear about dental treatment
- Traumatic dental experiences in the past
- Requires extensive or complex dental care
- Low pain threshold
- Considerable teeth sensitivity
- Strong gag reflex
- Difficult time relaxing in a dental chair
Whether you’re undergoing a complex procedure or just a routine cleaning, dental sedation can ensure that you have a stress-free experience at our Pine Valley dental office.
What does Sedation Dentistry Involve?
Dental sedation involves using medications to help patients relax during dental procedures. There are different levels of sedation depending on the patient’s needs:
- Minimal Sedation (Nitrous Oxide): Often called “laughing gas,” it’s inhaled through a mask placed over the nose. It helps you relax but wears off quickly once the mask is removed.
- Oral Sedation: This involves taking a pill before the appointment, usually a mild sedative. It makes you drowsy, but you can still respond to the dentist’s instructions.
- IV Sedation: Administered through a vein in your arm, IV sedation allows the dentist to adjust the level of sedation continuously. It induces a deeper relaxation and sometimes causes patients to fall asleep, although they can still be awakened easily.
- General Anesthesia: Typically used for extensive procedures or for patients with severe anxiety or special needs, it renders you completely unconscious during the procedure.
Throughout any type of sedation, Dr. Aaron Pitts and our team monitor your vital signs to ensure your safety. Afterward, you may feel groggy and will need someone to drive you home. Sedation dentistry ensures a more comfortable experience, especially for those with dental phobia or undergoing complex treatments.
Is it Safe to be Sedated at the Dentist?
Our dentists undergo specialized training in order to administer dental anesthesia and monitor patients effectively, with safety being a top priority. At each step of the process, your vital signs will be carefully monitored to ensure your safety and well-being.
Your medical history, the complexity of the procedure, and your anxiety level are all taken into account beforehand and help determine the proper type of sedation needed. We will review the process and all potential risks with you beforehand. With any procedure there are always risks, but with dental sedation they are quite rare.
When does Sedation Dentistry Make Sense?
Historically, sedation has been used for sophisticated or time-intensive procedures, such as a Smile Makeover, dental implants or All-on-4 implant dentures. In these situations, sedation provides you with a much more comfortable experience. But sedation can also be used to help calm anxious nerves for smaller treatment as well. Many patients appreciate the way nitrous oxide can ‘take the edge off’ and put you at ease.
What are the Side Effects?
Patients commonly report feeling a bit groggy, drowsy or light-headed after the procedure. For those that have received oral sedation, you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home afterwards, since you will not be able to resume your normal activities until the following day. We recommend having a friend or family member stay with you following your appointment to attend to any needs.
What is the Cost of Dental Sedation?
Sedation dentistry costs are customized to each patient based on their unique treatment plan. There are a few factors that will influence the final investment of dental sedation, such as the type of sedation administered and the total amount of sedation required. Our office will be happy to detail out the price for you before any treatment is scheduled.
For those that have complex treatment and would like to get it all done during one visit, we provide complimentary oral sedation to enhance your personal comfort during your appointment. Ask our team to see if you qualify!
FAQs
Are you awake during dental sedation? Am I fully asleep?
With oral sedation you will remain awake during the treatment, but you will feel more relaxed and at ease. Although you may feel a bit drowsy, you will still be able to respond to questions.
How long does it last?
The effects of sedation can vary depending on the specific type, dosage, and your individual response. Typically, oral sedation will last 2-8 hours but most patients notice the effects wearing off after 4-6 hours.
The effects of nitrous oxide wear off very quickly, usually within 5-10 minutes after it has been stopped. You will be given pure oxygen to breathe for several minutes afterwards to flush out your system.
Will I be able to drive home afterwards?
With nitrous oxide, the effects wear off soon after it has been stopped, allowing you to resume your normal activities following your appointment with your doctor’s approval.
The effects of oral sedation can last for up to 8 hours after administration, so you will need to arrange for a ride home following your appointment.
Does Insurance cover Sedation?
Whether your insurance will cover sedation or not depends on the specific dental plan you have. We recommend you discuss with our office or contact your insurance provider directly to verify if it is covered or not. Pine Valley Dental also accepts dental financing from Care Credit for those that would like to pay for their treatment in monthly installments.