Calm Care for Your Smile

Why Use Sedation Dentistry?

Today, sedation dentistry is more popular than ever because it makes seeing the dentist more enjoyable. We can easily pair sedatives with local anesthetics (numbing medication) to ensure you don’t have to feel a thing during your treatment. 

This is perfect for those with dental phobia or who have previously had bad experiences and now struggle to relax during even the most routine procedures. Our lighter sedation options can also help calm your nerves without leaving you feeling groggy for the rest of the day.

How We Help Your Nerves

We take a careful approach before recommending sedatives. First, Dr. Morgan and the team at Aesthetic & Implant Dentistry of Lubbock will listen to your concerns and evaluate your medical history to see what level of sedation you require. Next, we’ll review your options and plan for the appropriate type of sedation medication to help you visit our practice stress-free.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Our lightest sedation option, nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, helps put you in a very calm state and is often accompanied by a slight euphoric feeling. We mix the gas with oxygen and administer it through a soft mask. Nitrous oxide is a fast-acting sedative that takes effect after a few minutes and wears off shortly after treatment.

We usually recommend this sedation for minor dental procedures to help our patients reduce anxiety, but it can also help those undergoing more advanced surgical procedures.

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral sedation is a stronger sedative that puts you in a dreamlike state that can last for a few hours. We tend to recommend this sedation option for more extensive procedures like multiple or full-arch implant placement. This sedative via a pill that patients take roughly one hour before treatment.

Shortly after taking the medication, you will feel very sleepy but remain awake throughout treatment. However, oral conscious sedation is known to have an amnesic effect, so you may not remember all aspects of your dental visit. Since it takes a while to wear off, you’ll need someone to accompany you to your appointment.

IV Sedation

Intravenous sedation is delivered via the veins for a faster and stronger effect and helps you relax into a sleep-like state. It’s called conscious sedation or twilight sedation because you won’t be completely unconscious, but you likely won’t remember much of the procedure afterward. We use IV sedation for more complex procedures or for patients with severe dental anxiety.

We know the thought of being poked and prodded is unsettling for some patients, but we promise you don’t need to worry! If you tend to react to anesthesia, we’ll give you some anti-nausea medicine before administering the sedatives.

What to Expect After Receiving Sedation

Sedatives affect everyone differently, but you will most likely feel groggy after oral conscious sedation. Considering this, you will want to clear your schedule after your appointment if you need time to recover. That said, nitrous oxide sedation, on the other hand, wears off quickly.

Experience the Difference with Sedation Dentistry

Thanks to sedation dentistry at Aesthetic & Implant Dentistry of Lubbock, dental treatments are easier than ever. If you’re hesitant to see Dr. Morgan, we are confident that our sedation options can give you peace of mind during your treatment. Call today to schedule an appointment.