Sedation Dentistry – Sweeny, TX
Stress-Free Dental Visits
At Sweeny Family Dental, we see nervous patients every single day. Most of the time, our warm and friendly team is enough to help them feel comfortable in the chair, but for those who experience more severe dental phobia, sedation dentistry may be exactly what they need. With the safe and effective options detailed below, we can guarantee that absolutely any patient will enjoy a smooth and stress-free appointment. Do you think you or your child could benefit from dental sedation? To learn more about your options or schedule an appointment, give our dental office a call.
Why Choose Sweeny Family Dental for Sedation Dentistry?
- Sedation available for any procedure
- Kind, friendly, & non-judgmental team
- Can stop unwanted thoughts & physical discomfort at the same time
Oral Conscious Sedation
If you could take a pill that would make all of your dental fear go away, would you do it? That’s exactly what oral conscious sedation can do for you. Dr. Funk will prescribe a pill for you to take about an hour before your appointment, and that way, you’ll already be completely physically and mentally relaxed by the time you reach our dental office. You’ll remain awake, but your visit will seem to fly by very quickly, and you’ll likely have little to no memory of it afterward.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, has been effectively used by dentists for more than 100 years to help slightly anxious dental patients. It’s so gentle that it’s even safe for small children! A patient simply breathes in the odorless gas through a small nasal mask, and within a few minutes, a warm blanket of relaxation should come over them. The mask will stay on the entire appointment, and once it’s removed, the gas’ effects wear off almost instantly.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
There’s a good chance you have concerns about sedation dentistry. After all, this particular service can seem daunting when you don’t know much about it. That said, Sweeny Family Dental is here to remedy that problem: we’ve listed some answers to frequently asked sedation questions below. By reading them over, you can understand what your sedation dentist in Sweeny is all about. Otherwise, you’re always free to call our office for more details!
Will I feel any pain with dental sedation?
Dental sedation itself won’t cause you discomfort. In fact, it’ll actually help your treatment go more smoothly and comfortably.
You see, dental sedatives suppress your body’s pain response. As a result, sensations from your procedure will feel more like pressure than aches. You’ll thus be at ease as the dentist proceeds with their work.
Furthermore, the dental team will take precautions. Depending on the procedure, your mouth may be numbed with an anesthetic beforehand. This method would ensure you don’t feel any pain from the upcoming procedure.
Can dental sedation make you sick?
Ultimately, whether sedation makes you sick depends on the type. Some are more likely to cause nausea than others.
For nitrous oxide sedation, the risk of sickness is quite low. Very few patients ever have a bad reaction to the gas. However, the odds increase a bit the longer it’s inhaled. Still, feeling nauseous from nitrous oxide is highly uncommon.
Given its strength, oral conscious sedation has a higher risk of nausea. However, a dentist may compensate by telling you not to eat a few hours before treatment. If you struggle to skip meals, you could book your visit in the morning.
Should you be prone to nausea, let your dentist know – they might give you an anti-sickness drug to help.
What does it feel like to be sedated at the dentist?
As with the sickness risk, how sedation feels relates to the sedative you get. Different ones produce different effects.
In general, nitrous oxide helps you feel relaxed, light, and euphoric. Patients have sometimes reported a slight tingling sensation in their arms and legs. You could also get the giggles, which gives nitrous oxide its nickname of “laughing gas.”
Meanwhile, oral conscious sedation leads to an even deeper relaxation. You thus may struggle to speak and stay awake; you might even doze off. Other possible feelings include heaviness and a sense of time passing more quickly.
What are the risks of sedation dentistry?
True, sedation dentistry is very safe for most patients. Even so, it could present minor risks for certain individuals.
Consider those with unique health issues, for example. Someone with sleep apnea or taking specific medications may develop sedation complications. Plus, people are known to react differently to sedatives and medicines that a dentist could use.
Fortunately, these issues seldom happen. More common side effects (which could last a few hours) are nausea, headaches, and grogginess.