Sedation Dentistry – Aurora, CO
Enjoy A Relaxing Dental Appointment
Has it been a while since you last visited your dentist for a checkup? Maybe you know you should, but you’re a little nervous to sit in the dental chair. If this is the case, you’re not alone. As many as 1 out of every 5 Americans has avoided seeing their dentist due to some degree of nervousness, anxiety, or even fear. Fortunately, your sedation dentist in Aurora has just the solution for you: sedation dentistry! We can help calm your anxieties with nitrous oxide sedation or oral conscious sedation so you can enjoy a relaxing dental appointment.
How Can Sedation Dentistry Help Me?
Sedation dentistry is a popular option for those who have dental-related fears and phobias. While it is routinely used to help those in this situation, it can also benefit people who have unique circumstances when visiting the dentist, such as:
- Need an invasive treatment.
- Need multiple procedures.
- Have a strong gag reflex.
- Difficulty keeping the mouth open.
- Cannot stay in one position for too long.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is often called “sleep dentistry,” which causes there to be some confusion about the practice. Contrary to what you may have heard, you are not asleep during your treatment. You remain conscious, but you will not feel any pain or discomfort.
After an initial consultation, we determine which type of sedation best meets your needs. We offer two safe and highly effective forms: nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
More commonly called “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is an inhaled sedative that has held a commonplace in dentistry for decades. You inhale the sedative through a mask placed over your nose, which also allows us to control the amount administered in order to cater to your personal needs. You quickly feel the effects of the sedative as you reach a high level of relaxation. You will not feel any pain or fear, so we can quickly perform the necessary treatments. After your procedure is complete, we turn off the gas and its effects wear off quickly. You can resume your normal activities without any lingering side effects.
What Is Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide, better known by the nickname “laughing gas,” is a colorless, odorless gas that has been used for more than a century to soothe fearful or anxious dental patients. The gas is mixed with oxygen and delivered through a nasal mask to safely and effectively calm nervous patients, allowing them to undergo the procedures they need.
Although sedation dentistry is sometimes also called “sleep dentistry,” you won’t actually lose consciousness. You’ll be awake enough to respond to the requests of our dentists and team, but you very likely will have a fuzzy memory of the procedure
How Does Nitrous Oxide Sedation Work?
A few minutes before your procedure is set to begin, we place a small cannula in your nose, through which you breathe the nitrous oxide. It should begin to take effect in mere minutes. You’ll likely feel warm euphoria. You may even start to feel like you’re floating!
Once your treatment is finished, we’ll simply remove the mask and let you sit in the waiting room. The effects of the gas should wear off in half an hour or less with no residual drowsiness. Because of this, you should be more than able to resume your normal day after your appointment. You shouldn’t even need anyone to drive you to and from our Aurora office.
Is Nitrous Oxide Right for Me?
One of the primary advantages of nitrous oxide is that virtually anyone can receive it. If you have any of the following, you might be a good candidate for nitrous oxide:
- Mild to moderate dental anxiety
- Sensitive teeth or gums
- An overactive gag reflex
- The need to undergo multiple dental treatments in one sitting
- Difficulty sitting still for prolonged periods of time
- Difficulty holding your mouth open for very long
However, there are some situations in which nitrous oxide is not recommended. Some of these include:
- Pregnancy
- Sinus congestion, which can diminish the full effects of the sedation
- Respiratory disease that can contribute to lung complications
- Certain medications, so be sure to bring a list of all your current medications with you to your appointment
Oral Conscious Sedation
Do you have a fear of needles? Does the idea of sitting in the dental chair fill you with dread? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you might be a candidate for a treatment known as oral conscious sedation. For patients with moderate to severe anxiety surrounding the idea of undergoing dental treatment, your sedation dentist in Aurora can administer oral conscious sedation to soothe your dental worries and let you get the care your oral health needs
What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is a treatment that alleviates virtually any degree of dental nervousness or fear. By taking a potent anti-anxiety pill or liquid medication that we prescribe, all your worries should dissipate, and you should feel warm and relaxed enough to undergo your treatment comfortably. This form of sedation is significantly more powerful than nitrous oxide, so we recommend it for our more anxious patients or those who need to receive extensive treatment in one sitting.
In addition to alleviating anxiety, this option also has a slight amnesiac effect. Chances are you won’t remember very much, if any, of your procedure. For this reason, it may feel like you went to sleep during your appointment. However, rest assured that you were awake the whole time, enough to respond to the requests of our dentists and team members
What Can I Expect During Oral Conscious Sedation?
With oral conscious sedation, you will be prescribed a pill or dose of liquid medication to take about an hour before your appointment is set to begin. Since the relaxing effects may begin to set in before your appointment, you’ll need someone to transport you to and from our office. When you arrive, we’ll begin closely monitoring your vital signs to ensure you stay safe throughout your procedure.
Once the pill begins to take effect, waves of relaxation and euphoria will wash over you, making all your worries a thing of the past. Because these effects will most likely last for several hours, you’ll need a trusted friend or family member to both take you home and keep an eye on you for the rest of the day.
Is Oral Conscious Sedation Right for Me?
For most healthy adults, oral conscious sedation is a wonderful way to allow you to easily undergo the dental treatment you need. You might be a candidate for this type of sedation if you:
- Are scared at the idea of even calling the dentist’s office to schedule an appointment
- Have delayed treatment you know you need
- Have a fear of needles
- Have trouble getting numb from local anesthetic
- Are looking for an easy way to receive several treatments in one appointment
- Have sensitive teeth or gums
- Have an overactive gag reflex
- Get soreness in your jaw when you have to hold your mouth open for very long
- Have trouble sitting still for an extended length of time
Enjoy Your Dental Appointment!
If your fear of your dentist in Aurora is preventing you from scheduling an appointment, you can conquer your anxieties with sedation dentistry. We are trained and qualified to safely and effectively administer nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation.
If you need a little extra help relaxing during your visit, we are here to help. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation for sedation dentistry.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
If you’ve been wondering how to get over dental phobia in Aurora, you know by now to look no further than sedation dentistry. Both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation can put you in a relaxed enough state of mind to allow you to receive the dental treatment you need. However, you probably still have some questions, especially if you have been dealing with dental phobia for a long time. Don’t worry; we have gathered some of the sedation questions that we get asked the most often and answered them down below. If you have a question that you don’t see answered here, don’t hesitate to contact your sedation dentist in Aurora and ask!
What Are the Side Effects of Sedation Dentistry?
The most common side effects for both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation include grogginess and amnesia surrounding the events of the procedure. There are a few other, less common side effects, including nausea and vomiting, dry mouth, and temporarily blurry vision. However, these side effects are quite rare, and as such you shouldn’t have to worry about them. If you do experience any of these side effects during your procedure, your dentist in Aurora will treat them accordingly.
How Much Does Sedation Dentistry Cost?
This all depends on your individual insurance plan, so it’s difficult to estimate your coverage. You can contact your insurance company to find out your benefits. In addition, our team will work with you to maximize your benefits and minimize your out-of-pocket costs so that you don’t have to pay a cent more than what is absolutely necessary for you to receive treatment.
Is Dental Sedation Safe for Children?
Absolutely! In fact, many children can benefit from it, especially those with special needs or those who have trouble sitting still for extended periods of time. The possible side effects of sedation are similar for children and adults, but rest assured that we will keep a close eye on your child during their procedure to make sure nothing bad happens.
Will I Need to Take Off Time from Work or School for Sedation Dentistry?
This depends on the type of sedation you’re receiving. If you’re undergoing nitrous oxide sedation, you can easily resume your day about half an hour after you stop breathing in the gas, since the effects wear off quickly. However, for oral conscious sedation, you’re going to want to spend the rest of the day at home relaxing, since the effects will often last for twelve hours or even longer. In addition to needing a trusted friend or family member to drive you to and from our office, you’ll want to take the rest of the day off from work or school.