Fear of the dentist is a real thing. For many people, it can make receiving dental care feel out of reach. At Angels Smiles Dental Care Center, we have experience helping anxious patients access the treatment they need. Sedation is a powerful tool we offer our patients to ensure a comfortable, successful visit and remove barriers to maintaining a healthy smile.

Our Sedation Options

Nitrous Oxide

For mildly anxious patients, we offer nitrous oxide. It helps promote a feeling of relaxation during treatment. This is important because anxiety can augment the experience of pain and also interfere with the efficacy of numbing agents (like novocain). Nitrous oxide is breathed in through a mask placed over the mouth and nose. The effects begin to wear off as soon as the mask is removed, so driving home is perfectly fine after treatment with nitrous oxide.

Photo of a mask used to administer nitrous oxide, a mild option in sedation dentistry.

Oral Sedation

We know that our most anxious patients will want to experience the feeling of being “knocked out” during treatment and will not wish to remember the appointment afterward. For these patients, we provide an oral sedative medication that induces a completely carefree state. Though completely conscious, patients under oral sedation typically feel as though they’ve slept through the entire visit and do not remember it later.

For some patients, the barrier to receiving dental care isn’t fear. These patients may need extensive dental work that requires more time in the dentist chair than they can reasonably tolerate at once. Oral sedation allows these patients to move forward with complex treatments in peaceful relaxation.

What to Expect During Sedation Dentistry

A woman in a carefree state during her dentist visit, as though she is under conscious sedation.

Before prescribing an oral sedative, our dentists, Dr. Claire Simmons and Dr. Kevin Bagley, will review your medical and prescription history to make sure the medication is appropriate for you. If so, you will be prescribed a pill to take 30-60 minutes before your appointment time. This will give the medicine time to take effect so that you are in a state of deep relaxation before treatment begins. Dr. Simmons or Dr. Bagley will be monitoring your vital signs throughout your visit.

The effects of oral sedation last from 2-8 hours. This means that for the duration of your visit, you will remain blissfully calm and comfortable. And even after it is over, you may continue to feel this way for several hours. For this reason, it is not safe to drive yourself home while under conscious sedation.

Will I Be Asleep During Conscious Sedation?

The oral medication we prescribe induces a state known as conscious sedation that is distinct from the unconscious state induced by general anesthesia. Under conscious sedation, you remain fully able to respond with reflexes functioning as normal, even as you are deeply relaxed. Afterward, you may be convinced that you were sleeping the whole time, and you likely won’t remember the appointment at all.

Your Peaceful Path to a Healthy Smile

If you’d like to learn more about how sedation can help you achieve your smile goals, we invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation by calling our office. Or request an appointment online, and we’ll contact you to set one up.