Do you feel stressed out when you think about your next dental appointment? Do you know that keeping your teeth healthy is important, but your anxiety makes each visit a stressful one? If so, you’re certainly not alone! Fortunately, sedation dentistry is specifically designed to safely and effectively help nervous, scared, or uncomfortable patients relax and get the dental care they need without worry. However, if you’ve never experienced dental sedation before, you may not know what to expect. Read on for a brief overview of what being sedated at the dentist’s office feels like.
Does Sedation Put You To Sleep?
When presented with a dental treatment that they don’t want to face, many patients ask to be “knocked out.” However, many of these patients don’t realize how risky it is to be fully unconscious or “put to sleep.” Sedation dentistry negates a large portion of this risk by keeping you conscious while providing nearly the same effects. Even though you’ll be awake enough to answer simple questions and basic instructions, you won’t be bothered by any of the sights, sounds, or sensations that would typically upset you. Plus, you aren’t likely to remember anything about your appointment.
Being Under Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide is the lightest form of dental sedation. A small mask is placed over your nose and you’ll inhale a colorless, odorless gas. Within moments, you’ll begin to feel airy and relaxed. You may even start to feel so content that you begin to giggle at silly things, which is why nitrous oxide sedation is sometimes called laughing gas. The light, easy-going feeling will persist throughout your appointment. Your dental team will be monitoring you throughout your appointment and will be able to adjust your level of sedation at any time if needed. Then, once your treatment is over and the nose mask is removed, you’ll return to your normal alertness within a few minutes. Nitrous oxide has no long-term side effects, so you’ll be able to drive yourself home and go about your day as usual!
Being Under Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation achieves a deeper level of relaxation. You’ll take a single dose of a sedative prescribed by your dentist before your appointment. It typically takes the shape of a small pill. The calming effects of oral conscious sedation come on gradually, but it’s very likely that you’ll feel completely relaxed by the time you arrive at your dentist’s practice. Many patients report a heavy, tingling feeling in their arms and legs, and it’s not uncommon for them to drift off to sleep during their treatment. You’ll still feel quite groggy by the time your appointment is over, so you’ll need a trusted friend or family member to drive you home. You should plan on relaxing for the remainder of the day, as it will take several hours for the sedative to wear off completely.
Being sedated at the dentist’s office feels slightly different for everyone, but you can rest assured that your dentist will do everything in their power to make you feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed while they care for your smile.
About the Practice
At Carlson Dental Group, we strive to provide stress-free dental appointments with our friendly staff and calm office atmosphere. However, we understand that this isn’t enough for some patients, especially those who struggle with dental anxiety or dental phobia. That’s why we’re happy to provide sedation dentistry options like nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation. If you’re interested in discovering if dental sedation is right for you or if you have more questions about what to expect when sedated, feel free to reach out to us online or at (904) 262-8449.