Don't let dental anxiety prevent you from getting the care you need! Keeping you comfortable is our top priority, so we offer dental sedation.
With multiple types of sedation available at our practice, we can ensure that patients remain calm and relaxed regardless of their dental needs.
For some people, the dentist can be an intimidating place, making it a challenge to get the dental work that they need. At Nevada City Smiles, we don’t want anything to prevent our patients from getting the dental care that they require, which is why we offer dental sedation.
Types of Dental Sedation
There are several different types of sedation dentistry available, which are classified based on different methods of administration and the intensity of the sedative. Your particular circumstances or procedural needs may dictate the type of sedation you will need; this may depend on your treatment, your anxiety level, or your own preferences and state of health. At our Nevada City, CA office, we offer both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. These are both effective resources to assist in getting the care you need while being relaxed and comfortable during any dental procedure.
Continue reading below for more information on these options so that you can make an informed decision.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is one of the most commonly used sedatives in dental practices due to its quick-acting ability to rapidly calm anxiety, and at the same time, it avoids any lingering sensations or adverse effects that may follow. The use of this sedative has been shown to be safe and effective in reducing anxious feelings in both children and adults.
Nitrous oxide is administered as a breathable gas that is delivered through a mask placed over the nose. This allows the sedative to quickly be absorbed into the bloodstream and achieve the desired effect. Typically, the effects associated with this inhalant cause patients to feel lightheaded and often lead to a sense of euphoria. The full effects take effect within three to five minutes and last throughout the duration of the procedure. Our team monitors levels of administration throughout the appointment and is readily able to increase or decrease dosage based on the patient’s needs.
Once the appointment is over, we will flush the mask with oxygen for a few minutes to clear away any remaining effects of the sedative. Due to the short-lived nature of the effects, patients are able to drive themselves home and return to work or school after their appointment.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is a more intense sedative that we use to help patients feel more relaxed during dental procedures. The sedative is taken by mouth in pill form, and it typically begins to take effect within an hour after consumption. This pill will be provided by our team an hour before the appointment begins, and we will monitor the patient as the effects begin to take place.
Although the patient will still be awake during the procedure, they will likely feel more drowsy and have a decreased ability to remember what took place during treatment. The effects of the Sedative effects may also include drowsiness and decreased motor function; this can last for several hours after the procedure, so we require that patients have someone else drive them home and stay with them for the remainder of the day.
