For some patients, visiting the dentist’s office can be anxiety-inducing. We want all of our dental patients to look forward to visiting our office so they can get the care they need. Our dental and office staff aim to create a warm and welcoming environment for every patient.
Because of this, Dr. Elizabeth Duling offers sedation dentistry in her Owens Cross Roads, AL office. Sedation dentistry is a general dental solution that allows patients to feel relaxed during their dental treatment. Patients who suffer from fear or anxiety can receive dental sedation for more routine treatments. We also use sedation dentistry for procedures like tooth extractions, root canals, and more.
Benefits of Dental Sedation
Sedation dentistry allows patients to get the care they need. Dental sedation:
- Offers painless treatment
- Allows dentists to provide faster care
- Requires fewer dental appointments
- Helps ease fear and anxiety
Please let us know if you or a loved one require dental sedation for your next appointment. We will work with you to find the best solution for your needs.
Types of Dental Sedation
We offer two types of dental sedation: oral and nitrous. Oral conscious sedation is taken in pill form before your appointment. Dr. Duling will give you the required dosage that you need. Oral conscious sedation allows patients to feel relaxed but conscious during their care. They may also feel drowsy and may not remember the details of their appointment.
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a mild sedative. This type of sedation keeps patients awake and aware while still calm and relaxed. The effects of laughing gas wear off as soon as the mask is removed, so patients who undergo this sedation can drive themselves to and from their appointment.
Who Can Dental Sedation Help?
People typically think of dental sedation for patients that suffer from dental fear. While this is true, that isn’t the only group of people that can be helped with sedation. Young patients that need extensive dental work or patients with movement disorders may be recommended to get sedation. It helps the treatment go smoothly and minimizes the risk of the patient getting hurt by moving at the wrong time.
If you have a really bad gag reflex, sedation helps with this as well. It relaxes the reflex enough so that the dentist can perform the care you need. It keeps you comfortable throughout it so you don’t have to worry about the consequences of the reflex.
Sedation also helps patients get multiple procedures and treatments done in one session. It’s understandable to want to get as much of your dental care done at once if you can. But it can be hard to stay comfortable for multiple dental procedures. Sedation allows you to relax and keep you comfortable longer so that these procedures can be performed.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
How long does it take sedation dentistry to wear off?
Since nitrous oxide is a gas, the effects will wear off almost immediately once the mask is removed. Oral sedation on the other hand will take hours to wear off. Once your appointment is over, you will need a ride home since you will still be in a sedated state. The effects should wear off in about two to eight hours depending on your dosage.
How will I feel during oral sedation?
Oral sedation will put you into a deep state of relaxation. You will not be asleep and you will even be able to respond to basic commands. Most people are even aware of what is happening but have no anxiety about it. The greatest advantage about this form of sedation is patients do not remember much from the appointment if anything at all.
Can I still feel pain during dental sedation?
Being in a sedated state will raise your threshold for pain. However, we will still use local anesthetic for your comfort. We will inject the numbing agent after you are sedated. This is helpful for patients who suffer from a fear of needles.
Will I be able to hear the dentist when I’m sedated?
Yes, you will be able to hear the dentist and dental staff while under sedation. Our staff will communicate with you what is happening and you will be able to understand. However, you may be so relaxed that you do not respond. Once the sedation has worn off, you may remember having the conversations but not exactly what was said.
Schedule a Dental Appointment
If you or a loved one have dental fear or anxiety, call our office for treatment. Try dental sedation today. Request a consultation with Dr. Duling on our website. You can also call Dr. Duling’s Owens Cross Roads, AL dental office at 256.202.4186. Let us know if you have any further questions about dental sedation and we will help.