Sedation Dentist Raleigh - How Sedation Dentistry Can Help

Dental anxiety prevents many patients from seeking the dental care they need. Sedation dentistry can help overcome fear and anxiety so that patients can receive necessary treatment.

Oral sedation dentist Raleigh uses prescription medication taken at a designated time before your appointment to induce minimal sedation. Patients remain awake but groggy, so it is important to arrange for someone to drive them home after the appointment.

Oral Sedation

Sedation allows children to receive necessary dental care that they might otherwise not get due to anxiety or fear. We offer several safe, effective and comfortable sedation options that allow your child to enjoy the visit and relax from beginning to end.

Nitrous Oxide – Commonly referred to as “laughing gas,” this method of sedation is administered through a mask that covers your nose. It’s highly controllable so that your dentist can adjust dosages as needed throughout the procedure. Nitrous oxide is cleared out of the system quickly so that you can drive home after your appointment.

Oral sedation is an option for patients with moderate dental anxiety. It’s given as a prescription pill to be taken about an hour before the appointment so that its effects are in effect by the time you arrive at our office. You’ll feel drowsy but awake while you undergo the treatment, and your dentist may administer additional local anesthesia as well.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is the most commonly used form of dental sedation dentist Raleigh. Also known as laughing gas, this safe sedative is inhaled through a small mask that fits over the nose during treatment. It takes effect within minutes and helps your child feel calm and comfortable in the treatment chair. It reduces anxiety and minimizes gagging.

Children who receive nitrous oxide sedation typically do not remember their appointment. They can usually resume their daily activities as soon as the mask is removed. They will still need to have someone drive them to and from their appointment, however.

Your child should not receive nitrous oxide sedation if they have a history of asthma or emphysema, claustrophobia or a cold. It is also not recommended for pregnant women. Other types of dental sedation include oral sedation and conscious sedation, which allows the patient to remain awake during the procedure but in a relaxed state. These types of sedation are often used for longer or more complex procedures.

IV Sedation

With this method, you’re given a sedative through an IV that courses through your veins. It is a powerful tool that can transform the experience of endodontic treatment into a calm and comforting one.

During your procedure, physical signs are continuously monitored to ensure the right level of sedation is used. Our sedation dentists are trained to read these signs and can adjust it as needed throughout the process.

Once the procedure is over, it will take about 24 hours for the sedatives to completely wear off. You will need someone to drive you home and should avoid drinking alcohol or making important decisions until then. You should also rest and eat food that is easy on your stomach to prevent nausea or vomiting.

Sleep Dentistry

Many people have extreme anxiety about going to the dentist, or at least about certain types of dental treatment. For these patients, sedation dentistry offers a solution to get the necessary care that they need without having to endure the anxiety and discomfort. Sedation dentistry is used to treat a wide range of dental issues, including simple cleanings, to more invasive procedures.

With oral sedation, you will take a pill about an hour before your appointment to allow the effects to kick in. This type of sedation dentist Raleigh produces minimal to moderate drowsiness, and you will still be awake but very relaxed. It is possible to fall asleep under this type of sedation, but you can be awakened with a gentle shake.

With IV sedation, you will receive the medication directly into your bloodstream. This offers the highest level of sedation and can be administered in either twilight or deep sedation. In twilight sedation, you will remain awake but calm, while in deep sedation, you may fall asleep and not remember the procedure afterwards.