Sedation Dentist – Plainview, NY
Complete Your Necessary Care without Feeling Anxious
Dental phobia is a real phenomenon that keeps millions of people from getting the dental care they need, and at Meadowbrook Dentistry, this breaks our hearts. If you’re the type of person who has avoided going to the dentist for years because of anxiety or fear, sedation dentistry can help finally remove that barrier to you getting the smile you deserve. We offer multiple options that can help even the most anxious patients.
Why Choose Meadowbrook Dentistry for Sedation Dentistry?
- Fast-Acting Nitrous Oxide Available
- Oral Conscious Sedation for Moderate Anxiety
- Powerful IV Sedation Provided
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
For those with mild levels of anxiety, nitrous oxide sedation is likely the best option to manage and reduce nervousness during dental appointments. To receive the gas-based sedative, patients wear a small nasal mask that is worn throughout treatment. As the gas is gently inhaled, patients experience a relaxing, yet euphoric sensation that makes anxiety melt away! After treatment is complete, the sedative can be removed as quickly as it appeared, ensuring patients can easily continue their day without interruption.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide sedation has many different applications and is most often used to assist patients who:
- Suffer from mild to moderate dental-related anxiety
- Don’t like the sights, smells, or sounds of the dental office
- Have a strong gag reflex or dental sensitivity
- Don’t respond well to typical anesthetics
- Are afraid of needles (such as anesthetic injections)
- Have trouble remaining seated for longer periods of time
It’s worth noting that patients who are pregnant, suffer from sinus congestion or respiratory disease, or are taking certain medications might not be suitable candidates for nitrous oxide. If you have concerns about an upcoming dental appointment and your eligibility for nitrous oxide, please let us know!
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
At the beginning of the appointment, a small mask will be placed on your nose that’s used to administer the gas. The gas itself is colorless and odorless and within a few minutes, you’ll begin to feel its calming effects—and though it’s called laughing gas, you won’t begin cackling maniacally! The gas is combined with oxygen and the ratio can be adjusted as needed to ensure that you’re able to fully relax during the appointment. Once you’re calm and comfortable, we can begin your treatment as planned!
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
When the appointment is over and we remove your mask, you’ll begin feeling normal within a few minutes without any lingering effects. This means that you’ll be able to immediately resume your day as planned, and you’ll even be able to drive yourself home! However, it’s worth noting that while nitrous oxide sedation fades away quickly, if you’ve received an anesthetic for any reason, those effects may last for a few hours after the appointment.
We’re happy to explain the details of receiving nitrous oxide sedation with you before you commit to the treatment, so feel free to give us a call for additional information.
Oral Conscious Sedation
If you have moderate levels of anxiety that nitrous oxide cannot properly address, oral conscious sedation can provide a more powerful solution for your dental phobia or nervousness. This sedative is taken orally prior to your dental appointment, which means you will need to have a friend or family member drive you to and from the office. Not only will you feel incredibly relaxed during your entire appointment, but you will likely forget most of the visit as well.
What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?
With oral conscious sedation, all you have to do is take a pill shortly before your appointment or when you arrive in our office. The specific medications used can vary, but a few that are commonly used include Valium, Ativan, and Halcion.
Many patients opt for oral conscious sedation because it does not involve the use of any needles. Unlike nitrous oxide, it also does not require a face mask, making it ideal for patients who find it difficult to tolerate having something on their nose.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
The effects of the sedative should kick in within a few minutes of when you take the pill, and you may remain under its influence for several hours after your appointment. Therefore, you should have a trusted friend or family member available to drive you home.
While you are sedated, you can expect to feel totally relaxed and calm. You might drift off to sleep, but you will not actually be unconscious. Following your appointment, you are unlikely to remember anything that happened during your procedure.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Contact us so you can schedule an appointment to talk to your sedation dentist about which sedation option is right for you. Generally speaking, oral conscious sedation is suitable for patients who:
- Struggle with moderate anxiety or fear surrounding their dental appointments
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Must undergo multiple treatments at once
- Have difficulty keeping their mouth open or sitting in the treatment chair for an extended length of time
- Are not easily numbed by local anesthesia
- Have had unpleasant or traumatic dental care experiences in the past
IV Sedation
Many dental patients only receive a mild sedative for treatment. Their fear isn’t too intense, or perhaps their procedure is short. Those with severe anxiety or extensive care needs, though, may require a potent kind. In that case, IV sedation is an ideal solution. By using the most powerful sedative we offer, this method promotes deep relaxation and calms even the most frayed nerves. To learn more about whether it’s right for you, just keep reading or call our office.
What is IV Sedation?
IV sedation is the deepest form of sedation dentistry available in dental settings. It administers a sedative intravenously or directly into the bloodstream, so effects “kick in” quickly.
Compared to nitrous oxide or oral tablets, the IV method promotes a much deeper state of relaxation. (An effect due to its reliance on Midazolam and Diazepam.) However, it usually leaves patients conscious rather than asleep. The resulting relaxed-yet-forgetful state has thus earned it the nickname “twilight sedation.”
While strong, IV sedation is perfectly safe. When you’re under it, dental team members will monitor your vitals to ensure you remain fine. Plus, it won’t leave any harmful side effects afterward. That said, you’ll likely feel groggy for a day, so have a friend or family member pick you up from the appointment.
Who is a Good Candidate for IV Sedation?
Given its results, IV sedation is usually suggested for patients with severe phobias or a prolonged need for care. Still, there are other qualifying factors to consider.
One such factor, for example, is patient sensitivity. Someone with an overactive gag reflex could truly benefit from the IV approach. It would relax the throat muscles so the dentist can proceed with work.
Similarly, those not easily numbed would also find IV sedation helpful. An IV sedative could do the trick if a patient wants pain relief but isn’t affected by standard anesthetics.
Of course, a dental consultation is the only way to confirm candidacy fully. This visit would give our team a chance to review your medical history. That way, they can make sure you don’t have any allergies to the medications.
The Benefits of IV Sedation
IV sedation has a great many unique benefits. Among them, the most common ones are:
- Deep Relaxation – Because of the sedatives used, IV sedation produces intense feelings of calm and relaxation. In fact, these sensations are so fierce that they help prevent traumatizing dental memories from forming.
- Fast Action – IV sedation takes effect quickly since it’s administered directly into the bloodstream.
- Controlled Flow – Unlike oral conscious sedation, the IV approach allows the dental team to manage the medication flow. As such, it can be changed or altered throughout treatment.
- Improved Oral Health – Due to treating overwhelming fear or anxiety, IV sedation can improve the oral health of people who often avoid getting dental treatments.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Does dental sedation make you tell secrets?
There’s a common misconception that dental sedation acts like a truth serum, resulting in you sharing your deepest, darkest secrets. Don’t worry – it’s very unlikely that you’ll reveal anything while we provide the necessary preventive or restorative care. For added peace of mind, know that anything you do say will be kept within the walls of the treatment room.
Is sedation dentistry safe while breastfeeding?
Nitrous oxide is a great option for patients who are currently breastfeeding because it completely leaves your system within minutes. Even more powerful forms of sedation dentistry, like oral conscious sedation and IV sedation, have a very low chance of affecting breast milk. With all of that said, you’re more than welcome to bring any questions or concerns you have to our Plainview dentists – they will be happy to help!
Will I remember anything with dental sedation?
With IV sedation, you’re more likely to forget your procedure. With oral conscious sedation and nitrous oxide, anterograde amnesia can also happen, but it usually stems from time feeling like it’s going by much quicker. Ultimately, this is something that patients who struggle with dental-related anxiety love because it helps alleviate stress and create a more positive association with dental care.
Is sedation dentistry covered by insurance?
In most cases, sedation dentistry is viewed as a “luxury” by dental insurance providers. Of course, there are some exceptions, including if you have a disability that makes it impossible to get the dental care you need without it. It’s also often covered (or partially covered) when more extensive care is needed, like multiple tooth extractions. So, don’t just assume that you’ll need to pay for it out-of-pocket. Instead, take a look at your dental plan and reach out to us if you have any questions.
Is sedation dentistry worth it?
If you struggle with dental-related anxiety, then you know how nerve-wracking it can be just to sit through a routine cleaning. In fact, many patients avoid their routine dental visits for that reason! That’s why sedation dentistry is worth it; it helps patients keep anxiety at bay so they can get the preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry they need without the stress.
How long does dental sedation last?
The answer depends largely on the type of sedation you’re receiving. While the effects of oral conscious sedation and IV sedation linger, the effects of nitrous oxide dissipate within a matter of minutes. That’s why patients who opt for this form of dental sedation can drive themselves home from their appointments!
Will I feel any pain with dental sedation?
Our team at Meadowbrook Dentistry goes the extra mile to ensure that your time in the treatment chair isn’t painful. The good news is that dental sedation actually suppresses your body’s ability to register pain. That combined with the numbing agent we will use beforehand ensures that you won’t feel any discomfort while we are working on restoring or enhancing your smile.