Sedation Dentistry – North Dallas
Alleviating Dental Anxiety with Safe, Comfortable Sedation Dentistry
Fear of the dentist is common, but it needn't prevent you from achieving a strong, healthy smile. Dr. Robert B. Mitchell uses sedation dentistry in North Dallas to alleviate dental anxiety and promote a positive dental care experience. He offers oral conscious sedation as well as nitrous oxide sedation. Both methods are safe and effective, and they have been used by millions of people to achieve strong, beautiful smiles. Come in for a consultation, and we’ll help you determine if sedation dentistry is right for you.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Many people know nitrous oxide as “laughing gas.” This calming form of sedation dentistry has been extensively tested, and it’s considered safe for a wide range of patients, including those who struggle with mild to moderate dental-related anxiety. So, if you deal with immense stress or worry prior to your appointments (or you forgo essential care because these feelings are so overwhelming), there’s a good chance that nitrous oxide is the solution you’ve been looking for. To learn more about it, read on or give us a call!
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Here at North Dallas Cosmetic Dentistry - Robert B. Mitchell, we administer nitrous oxide dental sedation in North Dallas to enhance patient comfort. So, if you struggle with dental-related anxiety, you have a sensitive gag reflex, or you experience head/neck/jaw pain in the treatment chair, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to find out if you’re a good candidate for sedation dentistry.
Note: If you are not a candidate because you’re pregnant, you’re allergic, or you have trouble breathing through your nose due to a condition like asthma, then we will work with you to find an anxiety-alleviating alternative.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
After you're comfortably seated in the dental chair, we’ll position the nasal mask. Then, we will ask you to breathe in and out through your nose, inhaling the nitrous oxide in the process. Within a matter of minutes, you will begin to relax, feeling any anxiety, stress, and worry melt away in the process. You’ll be awake the whole time too, so asking questions and responding to the prompts we give you will be easy. We’ll also control the amount of nitrous you receive to ensure you’re completely safe and completely comfortable.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
Once we’re done working to maintain, restore, or enhance your smile, we will turn off the nitrous oxide. The effects will quickly subside, so you won’t have to deal with lingering grogginess. In fact, it’s safe for you to drive yourself home following the visit, and you can continue your daily activities as normal! If you have any questions throughout the afternoon or the following morning, you’re more than welcome to give us a call too.
If nitrous oxide sounds like the calming solution you’ve been looking for, then it’s time to take the next step: schedule an appointment! That way, we can determine if you’re a candidate and, if you are, add it to your treatment plan.
Oral Conscious Sedation
If you qualify for oral conscious sedation, Dr. Mitchell will prescribe a sedative for you to take prior to your appointment. You'll feel groggy, so you should plan to have a friend or family member drive you to and from our dental office. By the time you get to the dental office, you will feel perfectly relaxed. You will remain conscious during your entire procedure, so you will be able to answer questions and follow Dr. Mitchell’s instructions. You probably won’t remember much of your dental visit, and the effects will take some time to wear off. By the next day, you should feel completely back to normal.
Am I a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
The best way to determine if sedation dentistry is right for you is by discussing your medical history, anxiety levels, and other factors with your dentist. This way, your treatment can be safely catered to meet your unique needs. Sedation dentistry can help patients who struggle with the following.
- Dental Anxiety: If you struggle with dental anxiety, sedation options can help you to feel more relaxed during your treatment.
- Increased Sensitivity: Sedation dentistry can be used for patients with particularly sensitive teeth or gums.
- Overactive Gag Reflex: If smells, tastes, or the presence of dental tools in your mouth make you gag easily, sedation dentistry can help to reduce this.
- Long Procedure: Even if you don’t have dental anxiety, sedation dentistry can help to improve your experience if you have a particularly long procedure coming up.
