It is estimated that 3 out of every 10 American adults avoid the dentist because of fear and anxiety. Dental phobia can be a serious condition that prevents people from getting the dental care they need. Valley Dental Health offers sedation dentistry in Hunt Valley, MD to help patients feel relaxed and comfortable during treatment.
There are several types of sedation techniques we provide for patients who have dental anxiety or who are in need of complex dental treatment. We are also one of the few dentist offices to offer IV sedation in this area.
In Maryland, IV sedation is only available through specially trained oral surgeons and dentists. Dr. Roham Rafat is certified in Maryland to administer IV sedation to patients at our Cockeysville dental office.
The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
During most dental procedures, dentists will use a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth. Essentially, it is an injection that blocks the pain signals to the pain. While it works very well to prevent patients from feeling pain, it does not help with anxiety, fear, and other things that prevent patients from seeking the dental care they need.
Sedation dentistry provides more of an all-over euphoric effect. This helps to control pain levels in the treatment area and calm the anxiety and fear that some patients associate with going to the dentist or receiving dental treatments. There are many benefits to using it. Dental sedation allows your dentist to perform more treatments during a single visits. This is because the patient is very relaxed and cooperative making it easier for the dentist to complete procedures quickly and efficiently.
Sedation dentistry can also be used for patients who have a low pain tolerance, a strong gag reflex, or difficulty sitting still for long periods of time. Anyone who can benefit from remaining calm and relaxed during their dentist appointment should consider a sedation method. It has been proven to increase patients comfort level and reduce anxiety.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
Valley Dental Health offers several options for sedation dentistry in Hunt Valley, MD. The type you need will depend on your needs and the procedure being performed. The most common types of sedation dentistry include:
Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry
Oral sedation is a common sedation dentistry technique for patients with dental anxiety. Administered as a pill, patients remain conscious, yet calm and relaxed, allowing the dentist to perform the needed procedures. You will be able to respond to basic commands. However, you will be in a very deep state of relaxation. Some patients fall asleep due to being so calm.
Most patients report no memory of the procedure and feel as though they “slept” through treatment despite being awake and conscious throughout the procedure for safety and cooperation.
We will prescribe a medication that you will take about an hour before your appointment. Because of this, you will need to make sure you have someone drive you to and from the appointment. This oral medications will impair your ability to drive.
Nitrous Oxide, or Laughing Gas
Nitrous oxide has been used for many years in dentistry. It is inhaled by the patient through a special mask that sits by the nose. The gas simply puts the patient in a deep state of relaxation. They remain fully awake and cooperative during treatment. Nitrous oxide is one of the safest and most effective sedation dentistry techniques.
The effects of laughing gas are only present when the mask is on. Once we place the mask on your face, you will begin to feel very relaxed, almost like your body is going numb. However, most people remain awake during treatment and can move and talk normally. Once we are done, we will remove the mask and the sedative effects will cease right away. This allows the patient to quickly recover and return to their normal activities.
IV sedation dentistry
IV sedation dentistry can only be administered by properly trained and certified dentists. We are one of the few dentists in Hunt Valley to offer IV dental sedation. With this technique, medication is administered directly into the bloodstream for a highly controlled and monitored sedation option.
The primary benefit of IV sedation dentistry is that patients can feel immediately relaxed. Your Valley Dental Health team will be able to perform multiple treatments at once while you are relaxed and calm. You will be required to plan for a ride home after treatment.
Oraverse®
We also offer Oraverse® to reverse the effects of anesthesia. Oraverse® is an injection that is delivered after treatment so that you can leave our office without having to worry about numbness, drooling, slurred speech or any other unwanted side-effects of anesthesia.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Are you interested in learning more about sedation dentistry? Ready through our frequently asked question section to see if your question is addressed there. If not, please feel free to reach out to our office. They will be able to answer any question you have about our dental sedation methods.
How long does it take for dental sedation to wear off?
Depending on the type, and amount of sedation used it may take anywhere from two to eight hours for sedation effects to wear off. Oral sedation typically wears off within 2 hours, however IV sedation may take up to eight.
Can you eat before dental sedation?
If you do eat before your procedure, we recommend that it is a light meal. It is important to hydrate before your appointment. You may eat and drink up to two hours before your appointment, but after this it is important to fast so that sedation can take full effect.
Are you awake during dental sedation?
Dental sedation is not like general anesthesia. You will remain awake, but will feel very calm and at ease. Patients should not feel any pain while under dental sedation. You will remain conscious but may struggle communicating with your dentist.
What should you not do before sedation?
Prior to your procedure, we recommend that you abstain from drinking and smoking for at least 24 hours prior to the appointment. It is important to remove all jewelry before your appointment. If you are a diabetic, we ask that you check your blood sugar the day of your procedure, and report the results back to us before we begin.
Do you feel pain with oral sedation?
No. Sedation options are meant to prevent pain during treatments. You should not feel pain while under oral sedation. If you do, let us know. We have certified and experienced dentists that will make sure you are fully comfortable.
Do you remember anything after sedation?
Depending on the type of sedation, you may not be able to remember what happened during your dental procedure. You may feel drowsy and not remember what happened after the procedure.
