Sedation Dentistry – Ellicott City, MD
Afraid of the Dentist? We Can Help!
It happens all too often—patients avoid visiting the dentist for years because they feel anxious or afraid. Unfortunately, most of the time this negligence leads to major problems and severe dental pain that could have easily been avoided. At Ellicott City Smiles Dental Group, your comfort is among our top priorities, and we go the extra mile to make sure that you feel safe and well cared for from the moment you arrive until you check out. Read on to learn how we address dental anxiety and fear in our patients with sedation dentistry in Ellicott City, MD.
Why Choose Ellicott City Smiles Dental Group For Sedation Dentistry?
- Gentle Nitrous Oxide
- Powerful, Effective Solutions Offered
- Highly Trained Dental Team
Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry
Are you more than just a little nervous about going to the dentist? If you’re feeling terrified or are undergoing a complex procedure, oral conscious sedation may be the perfect solution. Our team will carefully evaluate your needs and determine whether oral conscious sedation is appropriate for your procedure. About an hour before your appointment, you’ll take a prescribed pill we provide so that by the time you’re in the chair, you’ll already feel its calming effects. Although you’ll remain awake, you likely won’t remember much of your visit afterward.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is a safe option for patients with moderate to severe dental anxiety or those undergoing more extensive treatment. Our team will evaluate your needs and decide if this method is appropriate for your procedure. With oral conscious sedation, you’ll remain awake throughout your visit, able to respond to questions and communicate with the dentist while feeling deeply relaxed.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Oral conscious sedation is administered before your appointment in the form of a pill that one of our trusted sedation dentists will prescribe you. We typically prescribe medications in the diazepam family, like Valium. You’ll take it about an hour before your visit to give plenty of time for the effects to fully work. The medication will help you feel relaxed, at-ease, and significantly more comfortable with the sights, sounds, and smells of the office.
Because the effects of the medication can linger for up to eight hours, you’ll need to be prepared to have a trusted friend or family member drop you off and pick you up from our office.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
At Ellicott City Smiles Dental Group, your comfort is one of our highest priorities. While many patients feel at ease with our welcoming team and gentle approach, certain situations may require additional support. In these cases, our dentists may recommend oral conscious sedation.
Our team will carefully evaluate your health, treatment needs, and level of anxiety to decide when sedation is necessary and if oral conscious sedation is the most appropriate option. This method is often considered for patients who:
- Experience moderate to severe dental anxiety
- Have a strong gag reflex or difficulty sitting comfortably during treatment
- Require longer or more complex procedures
- Have past negative dental experiences or certain health conditions that make treatment challenging
If sedation is recommended, we’ll walk you through each step of the process so you know exactly what to expect and can feel confident in your care.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation Dentistry
If you need to only take the edge off your nerves to feel completely comfortable in our dental office, nitrous oxide can help soothe you. In fact, it’s so gentle that we can use it safely on children. The odorless gas is inhaled through a small nasal mask, and within a minute, the patient feels warm, relaxed, and content. When we’re finished with our work, we’ll remove the mask, and the effects will subside almost instantly, allowing the patient to return to their day without any side effects.
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide may be recommended for patients who:
- Experience mild dental anxiety
- Don’t respond to typical dental anesthetic
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Require an injection and don’t like needles
- Need to complete a checkup/cleaning
- Need to receive a filling or crown
- Require a simple tooth extraction
- Feel uncomfortable sitting for a long period of time
- Need to fit their dental appointment into a busy day
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Everything will start with a conversation between you and your dentist. If you feel a little anxious about coming to see us, please let us know! We aren’t here to judge—we’ll just go over all the ways we can ensure your comfort while you’re in the chair. If you decide that nitrous oxide sounds right for you, we’ll simply place the mask on your nose when you sit in the chair. You’ll spend a few minutes inhaling the gas, and before you know it, you’ll feel warm, calm, and maybe a little giggly.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
One of the best parts about nitrous oxide is that it requires practically no aftercare. We’ll remove the mask and give you a chance to work the nitrous out of your system, which should only take a few minutes. After that, you should feel completely normal! The only thing to keep in mind is that you should avoid eating or drinking for a few hours if your mouth/lips are numb from anesthetic.
IV Sedation Dentistry
IV sedation works quickly, taking effect within minutes to help you feel calm and relaxed during treatment. Because the medication is given through a vein, our team can adjust the dosage as needed to keep you comfortable the entire time. We’ll carefully review your health and procedure to decide if IV sedation is the right choice for you.
General Anesthesia
In some circumstances, such as if the patient struggles to sit comfortably for prolonged periods of time, we may opt to use general anesthesia. Our team has been trained to handle these situations with great care and will monitor you closely throughout the entire procedure to make sure you stay safe and comfortable the whole time. As with oral conscious and IV sedation, you’ll need to have someone drive you to and from the appointment and stay with you as the effects of the anesthesia wear off.
Sedation FAQs
If you suffer from dental-related fears and phobias or need a complex dental procedure, sedation dentistry can make your experience comfortable and enjoyable. It’s normal to have a few concerns before you’re ready to agree to sedation, but there isn’t any reason to worry. We will explain everything during your initial consultation. While you wait for your appointment, here are the answers to a few of the most common questions patients ask us about sedation to help calm your nerves.
Will I still feel pain?
Many people avoid their dentist or delay treatments because they fear pain. You won’t need to anticipate any discomfort when choosing sedation dentistry. In addition to the sedative, we also use a local anesthetic to numb the area. When combined with the appropriate sedation, you’ll have a lowered awareness level, so it’s unlikely you will have any pain during your visit.
Will I remember the procedure?
Depending on the sedative used, you won’t remember very much of your appointment. Time will fly by as you reach a deep level of relaxation to the point you might even fall asleep. It may only feel like a short nap, but an hour or longer may have passed by. As the effects of the sedative dissipate, you’ll become more alert and responsive; however, you may not be able to recall anything about your procedure.
Is sedation dentistry safe?
There are many misconceptions regarding the safety of sedation dentistry, but it has few risks of complications. We’ll perform a thorough consultation to ensure there is a minimal risk of complications. We’ll also closely monitor you during your visit to watch for any negative reactions, which are rare.
Are there any side effects?
Often, there aren’t any significant side effects associated with sedation dentistry. The effects of certain sedatives can take a few hours to dissipate. During that time, you may experience drowsiness, hiccups, dry mouth, and other non-severe issues, but they will subside within a short time. It’s best to take it easy for the rest of the day after your appointment to allow the effects to cease and to give your body time to recover.
How much does sedation dentistry cost?
There isn’t a set fee for sedation dentistry because the cost is determined by your specific needs, such as the sedative that’s used and the amount delivered. We’ll provide you with a custom estimate during your initial consultation and discuss the fees associated with the plan. A member of our team will explain your payment options, like using a traditional method or third-party financing.
Can I use my dental insurance to pay for sedation dentistry?
Every policy is unique, but some plans can be used to help offset the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket. We will work on your behalf with your insurance company to file the necessary claims, so you have one less thing to worry about. Our dental team will help you maximize your benefits to lower the amount you need to pay. You’ll enjoy comfortable care without breaking the bank.