Sedation Dentistry – Coppell, TX
Stay Relaxed During Your Surgery
Dr. Steele is well-known for the gentle care he provides. He and the rest of our team at Steele Dental truly care about your comfort, and that’s reflected in every service that we offer. Are you feeling nervous about your upcoming appointment? Don’t hesitate to let us know when you call our oral surgery office; we will make whatever accommodations you need to stay comfortable during your visit, and that includes providing a suitable form of sedation dentistry in our Coppell, TX oral surgery office.
Why Choose Steele Dental for Sedation Dentistry?
- The Best Customer Service Available
- Highly Skilled, Gentle, Caring Doctor
- A Friendly, Tight-Knit Oral Surgery Office Team
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
If you’re wondering why you’ve never heard of nitrous oxide before, it’s probably because you know it by a different name: laughing gas. Great for patients of all ages, this mild sedative can combat everything from dental-related anxiety to sensitive gag reflexes. If you’re interested in finding out if you’re a candidate, then get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment! If you can’t get on the phone right now, you’re also welcome to read on to learn more.
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide is well known for helping patients with more mild dental-related anxiety. However, that’s just one of its many uses. It can also help with sensitive gag reflexes, during lengthy procedures, and if you or a loved one have a disability that makes it difficult to sit still in the treatment chair.
Of course, there are some who aren’t candidates, including expecting mothers, those who are allergic, patients who have asthma or another condition that makes it difficult for them to breathe through their nose. Ultimately, if you are interested in finding out if nitrous oxide is an option for you, you need to come meet with our Coppell dental team.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide is administered once you arrive at our office. We’ll welcome you in, take you back to the treatment room, help you settle comfortably into the chair, and then put a small nasal mask in place. We’ll instruct you to breathe normally as we turn on the nitrous, allowing you to inhale the colorless, odorless gas. Within a few minutes, you’ll begin to feel relaxed, anxiety-free, and even euphoric. Then, we will begin your procedure! If necessary, we can adjust the level of sedation throughout your visit. That way, you stay completely calm and at-ease every step of the way.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
Unlike other forms of sedation, nitrous oxide will wear off quickly. In fact, you’ll feel like your normal self again within a matter of minutes! Since there aren’t any lingering effects, like grogginess, you can drive yourself home from your appointment and resume your normal routine – whether that’s heading back to work, going to class, or picking your kid up from school. As always, if you have any questions following your appointment, you’re more than welcome to reach out!
Oral Conscious Sedation
Nitrous oxide sedation isn’t always enough to keep you relaxed while you’re having oral surgery performed. Depending on your specific needs, our team may suggest oral conscious sedation. With this method, all you need to do is take a pill at the specific time that we tell you. When we’re ready to begin the treatment, you’ll already be in a state where the sights and sounds of our office won’t bother you.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Before the day of your treatment, you will be given special medication to help keep your anxiety under control. The specific type of medication used can vary from patient to patient. You’ll be told to take the pill in advance so that it has enough time to take effect before you’re ready to undergo the actual procedure.
There are no masks or needles involved with oral conscious sedation. Due to this fact, many patients find it more comfortable than other sedation options.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Oral conscious sedation helps you stay calm and anxiety-free while you’re having oral surgery performed. The medication won’t put you to sleep, although you might be tempted to doze off. You will still be awake, so you will be able to comply with any instructions that our team gives you over the course of your treatment.
During the procedure, our team will monitor you carefully to ensure that you stay comfortable. You may notice that time seems to go by more quickly than normal.
Note that the effects of oral conscious sedation will often start to set in before you even get to our office. As such, you should ask someone else to drive you. This same person will need to take you home once your oral surgery is complete, and they will need to keep an eye on you until the medication wears off.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Many different kinds of patients can benefit from having oral conscious sedation administered. We typically recommend it for those who are afraid or anxious about their upcoming treatment. However, keeping your dental fears under control is not the only possible application of oral conscious sedation.
Are you planning on having multiple treatments performed during a single visit? Are you planning on undergoing a particularly lengthy procedure? Do you have a tendency to gag very easily? Have you had trouble getting numb with local anesthesia in the past? Is it hard for you to sit still and keep your mouth open? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, oral conscious sedation could help you have a much more positive experience at our office.
Talk to our team if you’re interested in having oral conscious sedation performed. We’ll consider your needs and the specifics of your situation before determining whether this sedation method is really the best choice for you.
IV Conscious Dental Sedation
We can deliver a strong sedative directly into your bloodstream to soothe even the most severe dental phobia or to make it easier for you to stay calm and still during a lengthy treatment. Like nitrous oxide, IV sedation can be adjusted as needed to keep you safe and comfortable at all times. Note that while IV sedation is often referred to as “twilight dentistry”, you’ll remain conscious, meaning you can respond to any requests we make of you during your appointment.
IV Sedation
IV sedation may be necessary if you have severe dental anxiety or if you’re planning on undergoing a procedure that will take a long time. The medication for this type of sedation is delivered directly to your bloodstream, and as a result, it will only take a few minutes for you to start feeling relaxed. Keep in mind that with this type of sedation, you’ll need to make arrangements to have someone you trust to drive you home, as it will take the rest of the day for the effects to completely wear off.
What Is IV Sedation?
IV is short for intravenous, which typically refers to medication that is administered straight to the bloodstream via one of your veins. We typically use a vein in the top of your hand or the underside of your elbow. IV sedation puts you in a very deep state of relaxation, but you’ll remain conscious and able to follow any instructions we give you.
We always put the safety of our patients first, so you can rest assured that our team will keep a close eye on your vitals the entire time you’re under the effects of IV sedation. That said, you’ll be entirely at ease with your situation, and you’ll be unbothered by what’s going on around you.
The effects of IV sedation will continue to linger once your procedure is complete. Plan on resting for the remainder of the day, and make sure that you have a friend or family member that you trust to watch over you.
Who Is a Good Candidate for IV Sedation?
There are multiple kinds of sedation to choose from, and the type that’s right for you depends on the specifics of your situation. IV sedation may be your best option if:
- You have very high levels of fear or anxiety when it comes to oral surgery or dental work in general.
- You are undergoing a particularly complex or lengthy procedure.
- You have a gag reflex that might get in the way of your treatment.
- You have a condition like TMJ disorder that can make it hard to keep your mouth open for a long period of time.
To make sure that you’re a candidate for IV sedation, we will need to review your health history and ask about any medications you might be taking. We will only move forward once we’re sure that IV sedation is safe for you.
The Benefits of IV Sedation
You won’t have to wait very long for the effects of IV sedation to kick in, and the medication can help soothe even the most severe cases of dental anxiety. We have complete control over the flow of the sedative, allowing us to make the necessary adjustments to keep you relaxed at all times. In many cases, people who receive IV sedation have little to no memory of their treatment afterward, which is good news for those who find the idea of oral surgery stressful.
General Anesthesia
For certain surgeries, it’s necessary to use general anesthesia to put you in a sleep-like state. While you’re unconscious, you won’t experience any discomfort, and your brain won’t respond to pain signals or reflexes during the procedure. General anesthesia is usually recommended for involved procedures that take a long time. It’s safe for most people, even those with significant health conditions. Plan to rest for the remainder of the day after the surgery, as the aftereffects of general anesthesia tend to linger.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Does dental sedation make you tell secrets?
If you’re worried that dental sedation will act as a “truth serum,” don’t worry – it’s very unlikely that you’ll reveal a deep, dark secret while in the treatment chair. Of course, if you do say something that you usually wouldn’t while in your relaxed state, you can have peace of mind knowing that it will be kept within the walls of our office.
Will I remember anything with dental sedation?
One of the many reasons patients love dental sedation is because it often has an anterograde amnesia effect. In other words, you’ll have a hard time remembering your time in the treatment chair, even if you choose a milder form of sedation, like nitrous oxide. For many, this helps create a more positive association with going to the dentist, which helps reduce anxiety, stress, and fear surrounding preventive, restorative, and emergency care moving forward.
How much does sedation dentistry cost?
You might be surprised to hear that there isn’t a flat fee for sedation dentistry. The amount you pay will depend on factors like the type you choose, how long you’ll be under the effects, and if your dental insurance provider will cover a portion of the cost. With all of that said, our team will review all of the financial solutions available to you, like flexible financing, at your appointment so the price is as affordable as possible.
Is sedation dentistry covered by insurance?
We touched on the fact that dental insurance may cover a portion of the cost of dental sedation above. Although this is usually considered a “luxury” treatment, there are cases where solutions like nitrous oxide are partly covered, including if you need more extensive care, like multiple tooth extractions. That’s why we encourage our patients to take a look at the fine print on their dental plan instead of just assuming that they’ll have to pay for the entire cost of sedation dentistry out-of-pocket.
Important note: Our team at Steele Dental has experience working with many popular providers, including Guardian and Principal, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need any help navigating the ins and outs of your plan.
What does it feel like to be sedated at the dentist?
If you’ve never experienced nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or any of the other sedation options we offer at our office before, you might be a bit curious about what to expect. With nitrous oxide, you can expect to feel light, euphoric, and anxiety-free. Oral conscious sedation offers an even deeper state of relaxation, and the effects of options like IV sedation are even more amplified.
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