Sedation Dentist – Centennial, CO

Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?

If you’re trying to figure out whether you could benefit from nitrous oxide at your next dental appointment, ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you often nervous about visiting the dentist even for routine checkups and cleanings?
• Do you often have a hard time sitting still for extended periods?
• Do you tend to gag easily?
• Have you had problems getting numb with local anesthesia in the past?

You could be a candidate for nitrous oxide sedation if you answered “yes” to any of these questions. That said, though, it should be noted that nitrous oxide is not recommended for certain people, such as pregnant women or anyone who is currently suffering from sinus congestion. Our team can help you determine whether nitrous oxide sedation is truly suitable in your case.

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work? 

When you’re ready to begin your treatment, one of our patients will place a small mask over your nose. The mask will be hooked up to a machine that, when switched on, will release nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen. As you breathe the gas in, you will start to become more relaxed. You might also feel drowsy, but the sedative is not intended to cause you to fall asleep; you will still be awake and capable of following any instructions given by your dentist.

As we’re treating your smile, we’ll keep a close eye on you and adjust the level of sedation if need be. Once the procedure is over, we’ll take the mask off of your nose. You will be given a few minutes to rest, during which time the effects of the nitrous oxide will slowly dissipate.

Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide

The only aftercare required for nitrous oxide is to wait in our office for a short while. Our team will keep a close eye on you until we’re sure that the effects have worn off completely. Afterward, you should be able to go back to your regular activities right away, whether that means returning to work, running errands, or engaging in other activities.

Of course, you may require aftercare for your actual dental work depending on how invasive it was. Sometimes it may be necessary for you to spend a day or two resting at home. We urge you to call us immediately if any unexpected side effects occur during your recovery.

What is Oral Conscious Sedation?

Oral conscious sedation simply involves giving you a special kind of medication prior to your appointment. The exact kind of medication can vary; Valium, Ativan, and Halcion are all commonly used.

You don’t have to wear a nasal mask for oral conscious sedation; this is one reason why some patients may prefer it to nitrous oxide. Furthermore, it allows you to achieve advanced relaxation without requiring any needles.

How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work? 

You’ll be instructed to take the medication at a specific time before your visit. You should plan on having a friend or family member drive you to our office. The effects should start to kick in by the time we’re ready to begin the procedure, leaving you at ease with everything going on around you.

You might drift off during your treatment, but our team will be able to wake you up easily if that happens. Otherwise, you will remain conscious and capable of following our directions. You will also be able to let us know about your current level of comfort. We take the safety of our patients seriously, and to that end, we will closely monitor you the entire time that you’re under the effects of oral conscious sedation.

The effects of the sedative will likely linger for a while after your appointment. Therefore, you will need to have someone else drive you home. You should also plan to spend the remainder of the day resting. 

Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?

This is a question that needs to be considered carefully. Plenty of patients can potentially benefit from oral conscious sedation, but it may not be a good fit for everyone. Our team will need to consider your unique situation before we can make a recommendation.

Oral conscious sedation may be worth considering in the following situations:

• You have dental fears or anxieties that have discouraged you from seeking necessary care in the past.
• You have a gag reflex that’s stronger than normal.
• You need to have multiple treatments performed during the same appointment.
• You have trouble sitting still or holding your mouth open.
• You are resistant to the effects of local anesthetic.

Please reach out to us if you’re interested in oral conscious sedation or have any questions about how it works.