Sedation Dentist – San Marcos, TX
Have a Relaxing Dental Visit
Do you find yourself tensing up at just the thought of stepping foot in a dental office? Millions of people have the same problem, and it sometimes causes them to skip appointments to the detriment of their oral health. Don’t let your dental anxiety control you; instead, get in touch with our team at San Marcos Gentle Dental to ask about the options we offer for sedation dentistry in San Marcos and how they might help you have a more positive experience during your next dental visit.
Why Choose San Marcos Gentle Dental for Sedation Dentistry?
- Multiple Options for Relaxing Sedation
- Patient-Focused, Relationship-Based Care
- Comfortable, Privately-Owned Practice
Oral Conscious Sedation
If you decide to have oral conscious sedation dentistry performed, you’ll be given some medication before your appointment. Oftentimes we’ll instruct you to take it about an hour or so ahead of time since it can take a while for the effects to kick in. Once they do, though, you’ll feel very calm and relaxed. Time will seem to fly by, and you may have trouble remembering what happened while you were in the chair; however, you will remain conscious and capable of following our directions.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide is a naturally occurring gas that can cause feelings of euphoria and relaxation. It’s commonly used to help patients stay comfortable during various dental procedures. The sedative is inhaled through a small mask placed over the nose. After you take off the mask, you’ll only have to wait a few minutes for the effects to wear off. This means you can simply carry on with the rest of your day as normal after your appointment; you won’t need to spend time resting at home.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
There are plenty of reasons why you might be able to benefit from sedation dentistry:
- You need a certain dental procedure that is expected to take a long time.
- You are afraid or nervous when it comes to dental care.
- You have very sensitive teeth or gums.
- You have trouble sitting still or holding your mouth open.
- You’re unable to stop yourself from gagging during dental treatments.
Don’t hesitate to let our team know if you’re interested in having sedation dentistry performed.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Dental sedation is considered safe for most patients as long as it’s administered by a licensed professional, like one of our San Marcos Gentle Dental providers. For example, most people can receive nitrous oxide without developing any issues, including children. However, that doesn’t mean there are no risks or that everyone can safely undergo dental sedation.
Before proceeding, our team will update your medical history and list any current medications or supplements that you take to avoid doing anything that could harm your general health. We’ll also closely monitor your stats the entire time you’re sedated to keep everything within normal ranges.
Will I remember anything with dental sedation?
If you’re worried that sedation will render you unconscious, you can set your concerns aside. You’ll technically be awake enough to respond to our team’s questions and directions, but you might not clearly remember your procedure afterward.
For instance, nitrous oxide helps you feel calm and relaxed, which may cause drowsiness and make you forget the details of your appointment. Oral conscious sedation can also cause a memory loss effect that helps patients with anxiety complete the necessary services.
What does dental sedation feel like?
The impact of your dental sedation at our office in San Marcos depends significantly on the type of medication administered. Nitrous oxide is commonly known as “laughing gas” because it typically induces a tingling sensation and can cause you to catch a bad case of the giggles. The medication slows down your nervous system, making you less aware of your immediate surroundings, which helps you feel more comfortable.
Oral conscious sedation induces an even more profound sense of relaxation, and you might feel so at ease that you doze off during your treatment. Some patients also report feeling heavy or weighted in their limbs.
How long does dental sedation last?
The impact of the medication and how long it lasts also depends on the type of sedation provided. Nitrous oxide is inhaled through a mask placed over your nose, and the effects of the drug kick in moments after you breathe it in. Conveniently, they also fade within minutes of removing the mask and returning to normal breathing.
Oral conscious sedation consists of a pill that you’ll be instructed to take before you arrive, so it kicks in by the time our team begins working. The main benefits pass after a couple of hours, but you’ll likely feel groggy the remainder of the day. We often recommend that you avoid driving or operating heavy machinery for at least 24 hours.