Sedation Dentistry – Laguna Niguel, CA
No More Dental Fears
About 36% of the population is anxious about dental care or is afraid of going to the dentist. These fears can affect anyone of any age, and there’s absolutely no reason to be embarrassed about them. On the contrary, we encourage you to let us know if you’re nervous so that we can put your anxieties to rest with an appropriately chosen form of sedation dentistry from our Laguna Niguel, CA dentist. Don’t be afraid to ask about this relaxing option when you call to arrange an appointment with Dr. Anderson.
Why Choose Orange County Center for Sedation Dentistry for Sedation Dentistry?
- IV Sedation Available
- Gentle, Caring Dentist
- State of the Art Technology
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide dental sedation (also known as laughing gas) makes you feel warm and content so that the sights, sounds, and sensations of dental work no longer bother you. You’ll breathe the sedative in through a nasal mask throughout your appointment. The dosage you receive can be adjusted as needed in order to keep you comfortable. Once the appointment is over, you’ll only need a few minutes to fully recover from the effects of nitrous oxide, meaning you’ll have no trouble driving home on your own.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide Sedation?
Laughing gas is the lightest and gentlest form of sedation dentistry. It’s been used for decades to help patients of all ages feel comfortable in the examination chair so they can get the dental care they need without worry. Nitrous oxide dental sedation can help patients who:
- Get nervous or anxious when visiting the dentist
- Have low pain tolerance or don’t respond well to numbing medication alone
- Have an overactive gag reflex or very sensitive teeth
- Experience jaw, neck, or back pain when sitting in the examination chair
- Will be having several treatments completed at once
There are very few reasons why nitrous oxide dental sedation would not be a good choice for you, such as if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, experiencing nasal congestions, have sleep apnea, or have specific respiratory conditions. That’s why we’ll first meet with you for a consultation so we can discuss your preferences and thoroughly review your medical history.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Sedation Work?
When you arrive for your appointment and get settled into the examination chair, we’ll place a small mask over your nose. Within just a few moments of breathing in the colorless, odorless gas, you’ll begin to feel light, airy, and completely at-ease. Nitrous oxide sedation does not put you to sleep, and you’ll remain conscious enough throughout your appointment to answer simple questions and follow basic instructions. However, you’ll be completely oblivious to the sensations that would typically cause you physical or emotional discomfort. Additionally, your ability to register pain will be lowered. We’ll monitor your vital signs closely at all times, and we’ll be able to adjust your level of sedation at any time if needed to keep you safe and comfortable.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide Sedation
This form of sedation dentistry offers a variety of unique benefits, one of which being its ease of aftercare. Once your treatment is complete, we’ll remove the mask and you’ll return to your normal level of alertness withing just a few moments. You’ll easily be able to drive yourself home and continue on with work, school, or anything else you have planned for the day without interruption!
To see if nitrous oxide can help make taking care of your smile more comfortable and relaxing, give us a call today!
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is a stronger form of sedation than nitrous oxide (which is why it’s recommended for more advanced cases of anxiety). As the name implies, you remain awake while under the influence of the sedative, but you will be in a completely relaxed state. In fact, you may even doze off because you’re so calm! The good news is that we can easily wake you, and you’ll be able to respond to any requests we have. Simply put, this sedative allows you to get the essential dental care you need and the calm experience you deserve.
What Is Oral Sedation?
Valium, Ativan, and Halcoin are a few common medications used during oral conscious sedation. Within 15 minutes of taking the pill, you should begin to feel the effects, which will help you stay calm and comfortable throughout your entire visit. There are a few reasons patients prefer this calming solution, including that it offers a deeper state of relaxation and that there are no needles involved. Of course, if you want to learn more about oral conscious sedation and the benefits it provides patients, you can give our team a call – we’d be happy to answer any questions you have or address any concerns!
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Before your treatment begins, you’ll take some medication. Once it takes effect, you’ll experience a deep wave of relaxation. As we mentioned above, you may feel relaxed enough to doze off, but we can wake you up with little trouble so that you can respond to our requests. Another benefit of this sedative is that it can make it feel like time is moving quickly and leave you with little to no memory of the procedure afterwards. Since the effects don’t dissipate instantly, it’s important that you have a trusted adult drive you to and from your appointment.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Although candidacy is determined on a case-by-case basis, oral conscious sedation is typically recommended for patients who:
- Have severe dental anxiety.
- Need multiple treatments or a complex procedure.
- Have a sensitive gag reflex.
- Have a disability that makes it difficult to control their movements.
- Have trouble feeling numb with local anesthesia.
IV Dental Sedation
Even those with very high levels of dental anxiety can enjoy a relaxing dental appointment thanks to IV dental sedation. This powerful form of sedation dentistry is typically recommended when other forms of sedation don’t give you the calming results you’re looking for. Like nitrous oxide sedation, we can adjust the dosage you receive while we’re working on your teeth so that you stay perfectly comfortable throughout the entire appointment. The effects are quite strong and will last for most of the day, so you’ll need to make sure that there is someone who can drive you home after your appointment. Read on to learn more about IV dental sedation in Laguna Niguel.
What Is IV Dental Sedation?
While nitrous oxide sedation delivers the sedative via a nose mask and oral conscious sedation does so through a pill or liquid taken by mouth, IV dental sedation is administered directly into the bloodstream via a small needle on your arm or the back of your hand. This allows the sedative to take effect quite quickly, and within a few moments you will drift into a dream-like state. Our experienced team will monitor you closely and can adjust your level of sedation at any time if needed to ensure you remain safe and comfortable.
You will feel groggy and relaxed throughout your appointment, but you will remain conscious. This surprises many people since you aren’t likely to remember anything about your treatment after the sedation wears off! Nonetheless, you’ll be conscious enough to respond to our basic instructions or questions. You’ll be completely oblivious to the sights, sounds, and sensations that would otherwise cause you discomfort.
IV dental sedation helps patients remain still for extended periods of time, which in turn allows us to work faster. After your treatment, you’ll need a trusted friend or family member to drive you home. You will likely continue to feel sleepy throughout the remainder of the day, so you should plan on taking it easy.
Who Is a Good Candidate for IV Dental Sedation?
Patients who suffer from extreme dental phobia or anxiety are often good candidates for IV sedation. It’s also often used for very long or complex procedures or to help patients who don’t respond to other forms of numbing medication or sedation. However, IV dental sedation is not a good choice for everyone. We typically do not recommend it for younger patients, older patients, patients who are breastfeeding, or those with certain medical conditions.
That’s why we’ll first need to see you for a consultation to ensure IV dental sedation is a safe and effective choice for you. We’ll review your medical history, current health, and a list of any medications you may be taking. From there, we’ll help you discover if IV dental sedation is right for you.
The Benefits of IV Dental Sedation
IV dental sedation offers benefits like:
- Maximum relaxation in a safe, controlled manner
- Little to no memories of your appointment afterward
- Comfortably get the dental care you need
- Complete several treatments at once
- Reduce the length of longer, more complex procedures
- Sedation can be adjusted at any point
