Sedation Dentistry – The Woodlands, TX
Safe, Proven Sedation for Anxious Patients
At Solomon Dental Group, we realize that some people are genuinely afraid of getting dental work. Are you or your child anxious about visiting our dental office in The Woodlands? Although it may seem easier to avoid going to the dentist altogether, waiting for dental treatment you need can have a detrimental effect on your oral health, cause you unnecessary pain, and cost you significantly more money to fix the problem later. Solomon Dental Group has been serving the community for over 15 years, and we’ve shown our commitment to each patient’s comfort in that time with proven options for sedation dentistry in The Woodlands, TX. Don’t let dental anxiety keep you from receiving the care your smile needs.
Why Choose Solomon Dental Group for Sedation Dentistry?
- Children and Adults Welcome
- Advanced IV Sedation Available
- Experienced, Compassionate Dental Team
Oral Conscious Sedation
Sometimes laughing gas isn’t enough to take away the feelings of fear, which is why we offer oral conscious sedation for adults. Hours before the appointment begins, you ingest a pill, and by the time you arrive for your visit, you’ll be perfectly relaxed. Although you will likely remain awake and able to respond, you probably won’t remember details of the appointment. However, keep in mind that with oral conscious sedation you will need to have a ride with a friend or family member both to and from our dental office because the effects can take a few hours to subside.
What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is a mid-level form of sedation dentistry. We often recommend it for patients with mild or moderate dental anxiety, who feel uncomfortable sitting in the dental chair, or who will be undergoing a lengthy or complicated treatment. As its name implies, you’ll take the medication by mouth before your appointment. While you’re remain conscious, you’ll be very relaxed. Many patients describe the sensation similar to being in a dreamlike state where time moves very quickly.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
If we determine that oral conscious sedation is right for you, we’ll give you a prescription for the oral conscious sedation medication. You’ll need to have it filled at your local pharmacy, then on the day of your appointment, you’ll take the pill or liquid. The effects won’t take place right away. Instead, you’ll gradually feel more relaxed as time goes on. By the time you reach us for your appointment, you’ll be aware enough to respond to basic questions, but you won’t register the sights, sounds, or situations that would typically cause you discomfort.
While many patients want to simply be “knocked out” or “put to sleep” for their treatments, oral conscious sedation offers a much safer alternative. Being completely unconscious comes with a set of potentially serious side effects. Meanwhile, oral conscious sedation reliably helps patients feel nothing during their treatment. Most people won’t even have any memories of their appointment. In short, oral conscious sedation offers all the things you’re looking for in being knocked out without the risks.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
The only way to know for certain if oral conscious sedation is right for you is to come visit us for a consultation. In general, we’ll recommend this type of sedation for patients who:
- Have mild to moderate dental anxiety
- Often cancel or postpone their treatments at the last moment out of fear
- Have trouble sitting still or sitting comfortably for extended periods of time
- Struggle to feel comfortable due to a very sensitive gag reflex
- Will be undergoing lengthy or somewhat complicated procedures
Oral conscious sedation is not a good choice for everyone. During your consultation, we’ll review your personal preferences as well as your medical history before approving you for oral conscious sedation. In some cases, a different form of sedation dentistry would be more effective. We will review all of your options, along with their pros and cons, during your appointment.
Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation
For milder cases of dental anxiety, children, or routine procedures, we use nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas, that is breathed in through a nasal mask throughout the procedure. Our caring, skilled team will check in with you to make sure that you’re completely comfortable and can adjust the nitrous oxide as necessary. This solution is safe to administer to children and quickly wears off, allowing you to resume normal activities after the appointment ends.
Learn More About Nitrous Oxide
IV Sedation Dentistry
Whether you’re having a complex procedure or you have severe dental anxiety, perhaps intravenous (IV) sedation is the best solution for you. Stronger than nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, IV sedation doesn’t exactly put you to sleep like general anesthesia, but it’s not uncommon for patients to feel so relaxed that they do end up sleeping. Throughout the entire process, our team will closely monitor your vitals and make any necessary adjustments for your comfort. Basically, you can trust our caring team to keep you and your loved ones safe and make sure that you have a positive experience.
Sedation Dentistry Frequently Asked Questions
It’s important that before you have any type of treatment or procedure, you feel comfortable about the process. How long will it take? Will sedation be available? If so, what type? Will the effects wear off quickly? To help put your mind at ease and give you more confidence about your upcoming dental work, your sedation dentist in The Woodlands has compiled a list of frequently asked questions about sedation dentistry. Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
What causes dental anxiety?
Dental anxiety can be debilitating for some individuals. Not only will it keep them from receiving the preventive care they need to prevent future dental problems from occurring, but if issues already exist, they can worsen and lead to serious health-related problems. Some of the reasons people with extreme dental anxiety choose to forgo seeing their dentist include:
- Trauma from a past dental experience
- Fear of needles
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of anesthesia
- Uncertainty of how you will react to the sedation or anesthesia
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Decades of research have been spent looking at how safe sedation dentistry is for patients. Fortunately, the results prove that with proper care on behalf of the dentist and the patient, sedation dentistry is one of the safest and most effective ways for individuals to receive dental treatment. No matter if you and your dentist choose nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation, you can trust that our team will closely monitor and make sure you are in a fully relaxed state while experiencing no pain whatsoever from your procedure.
Am I a good candidate for sedation dentistry?
If you exhibit any of the following, you are a prime candidate for sedation dentistry:
- Serious dental anxiety that keeps you from seeing a dentist
- Fearful of needles
- Require complex dental treatments or procedures
- Have a strong gag reflex
- Past traumatic dental experience
- Desire a more comfortable experience at the dentist’s office
How long does dental sedation take to wear off?
This answer is dependent upon the type of sedation you receive. For individuals who have nitrous oxide, the effects begin to wear off immediately after removing the mask and turning off the gas. This makes it possible to safely escort yourself to and from your dentist appointment. However, with oral conscious sedation and IV sedation, it is imperative that you have someone take and pick you up from your appointment, as the effects do tend to take some time to wear off completely. In certain situations, it may be necessary to return home and rest before engaging in any other activities.
Will I be unconscious while sedated?
No, sedation dentistry is not the same as being unconscious. In fact, our team will make sure that although you are relaxed and maybe even feeling as if you are floating, you will still be coherent enough to respond to the commands of the dentist and our team.
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