Sedation Dentistry – Arvada, CO
Soothing Your Dental Fears
Some patients have had unpleasant experiences at the dentist in the past. Others simply dislike the sound of dental equipment. And of course, many patients struggle with dental phobia. There are countless reasons why you might be tempted to avoid seeing a dentist, but no matter the case, this decision only puts your smile at risk. Fortunately, Dr. Paylor can use different forms of sedation to keep you calm and relaxed whenever you visit West Arvada Family Dental. Call our team today to discuss potential solutions for your dental anxiety, including sedation dentistry in Arvada, CO.
Why Choose West Arvada Family Dental for Sedation Dentistry?
- Locally-Owned Dental Office That Welcomes All Ages
- Fast-Acting Nitrous Oxide Sedation
- Passionate Dentist and Caring Team
Nitrous Oxide Sedation Dentistry
Do you get nervous about your dental visits? Or maybe you just don’t like the noises, sitting in the chair, or having someone touch your mouth? If so, you’re not alone – millions of Americans are affected by some form of dental fear. At West Arvada Family Dental, we are committed to making your dental care as enjoyable and relaxing as possible. That’s why we offer nitrous oxide dental sedation in our Arvada, CO dental office! Read on to learn more about this amazing service.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide
If you have mild to moderate nerves, anxiety, or fear when it comes to your dental care, nitrous oxide might be the perfect solution for you. However, this is also a great option for kids who are still getting used to going to their dental appointments. Additionally, you may be a candidate for nitrous oxide sedation if you have:
- A strong gag reflex
- Difficulty holding your jaw open
- Back or neck pain
- Tooth sensitivity
- Jaw pain
Typically, we won’t recommend nitrous oxide if you’re pregnant, have high blood pressure, or glaucoma. We will always review your medical history and discuss your needs before making a recommendation.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide is better known as “laughing gas” because it makes you feel light, happy, and even a little giggly. Combined with oxygen, nitrous oxide is administered through a comfortable nasal mask that is worn during your appointment. Simply breathe in and out as you normally would, and you’ll experience comfort and relaxation. Dr. Paylor can adjust your level of sedation based on your needs throughout the visit, making it very easy to control. Once your treatment is done, we’ll remove the nasal mask, and the effects of nitrous oxide will wear off after a few minutes.
Benefits of Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation
Our sedation dentist in Arvada offers nitrous oxide because of its many advantages, including:
- Personalization: Based on your unique needs, we can adjust the amount of nitrous oxide you breathe in throughout your appointment for customized, better results.
- Effectiveness: Unlike other forms of sedation, nitrous oxide kicks in almost immediately, making it easy to stay cool, calm, and collected from the beginning of your appointment.
- Convenience: Because it wears off quickly, you can drive yourself to and from our dental office, and you’ll be able to enjoy the rest of your day without a long period of recovery.
Oral Conscious Dental Sedation
If you’re feeling particularly anxious about your dental treatment, we can give you oral medication to put your body in a relaxed and rested state during your appointment. The medication must be taken ahead of time, usually in the hours before the appointment itself. Time will seem to pass by very quickly while you’re under the effects of oral conscious sedation, and you likely won’t have any memories of the visit itself. You’ll need to ask a friend or family member to drive you to and from your appointment. To learn more about oral conscious sedation, read more below.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Most dentists recommend oral conscious sedation to patients having trouble overcoming their anxiety or discomfort. Some commonly prescribed medications include Valium, Ativan, and Halcion. Regardless of the type you use, you’ll be asked to take it at some point before your procedure. Shortly after ingesting it, you’ll begin to feel the effects.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Although oral conscious sedation will make you feel deeply relaxed and sleepy, it will not produce unconsciousness. You might drift off to a light slumber, but it should be fairly easy for you to be awakened by a light shake. Since you’ll be instructed to take it before your appointment, you need to have a loved one drive you to and from the appointment.
When you get to our office, you should feel very relaxed. Throughout your appointment, our team will keep a close eye on your vitals to ensure you’re safe and comfortable. After a few hours, the effects will begin to wear off. Make sure you take it easy for the rest of the day until you feel back to normal.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Not sure if you’re a good candidate for oral conscious sedation? Dr. Paylor may recommend it if you:
- Suffer from mild to severe dental fear, anxiety, or nervousness
- Regularly cancel or reschedule appointments because of nerves
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Are receiving multiple dental treatments in one appointment
- Cannot keep your mouth open for long
- Have trouble sitting still in the treatment chair
- Have difficulty getting numb with local anesthesia
- Had a bad dental experience in the past
Trusted Partner in Sedation Services
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Sedation is indeed safe for the majority of patients. In particular, most people can have nitrous oxide sedation administered without any issues. While you’re under the effects of the sedative, our team will keep a close eye on your blood pressure, oxygen level, and other vitals to ensure that there aren’t any problems.
Of course, we’ll need to confirm that there aren’t any issues that might prevent you from having sedation safely administered. We’ll go over your medical history very carefully, and we’ll take note of the medications that you are currently taking that might have unwanted interactions with the sedative.
Is Sedation Dentistry Covered by Insurance?
Most of the time, the answer is no. Many dental insurance plans will not provide coverage for sedation dentistry due to classifying it as an elective treatment.
However, exceptions can sometimes be made depending on the circumstances. For example, if you would normally be unable to receive dental care due to a disability such as cerebral palsy or autism, your insurance company may be willing to help pay for sedation dentistry so that you can get the care you need.
Not all insurance plans are exactly alike. You should take the time to review your benefits and see what sort of coverage is available for sedation dentistry. Don’t be afraid to talk to our team if there’s anything you don’t understand about your plan.
Does Dental Sedation Put You to Sleep?
The two kinds of sedation that we offer at our practice – nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation – are not meant to put you to sleep. You will be relaxed, but you will remain conscious and capable of responding to our instructions and questions.
Sometimes oral conscious sedation can make you sleepy enough to doze off while you’re in the dental chair. However, it will be easy enough for our team to awaken you with a gentle nudge.
Does Dental Sedation Make You Tell Secrets?
Some patients worry that dental sedation can cause them to start telling secrets. Rest assured, though, that this is not actually an effect of the sedative; you are highly unlikely to reveal anything that you would rather keep hidden. On top of that, you will have a trustworthy team looking after you, so even if you do end up saying something you normally wouldn’t, it won’t leave the treatment area.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe While Pregnant?
Sedation dentistry typically isn’t recommended for patients who are pregnant, as there’s a chance that the drugs could be passed on to the fetus. Additionally, sedation during the first trimester may have a negative impact on the fetus’s development, and sedation during the third trimester could lead to premature labor.
The safest time to undergo sedation dentistry while pregnant is during the second trimester. That said, if you need a dental treatment where sedation would be required, the majority of dentists recommend waiting until after your pregnancy is complete (assuming that doing so is possible).