Sedation Dentistry In Redmond, WA
With sedation dentistry at Redmond Art of Dentistry, you can get the dental care you need in Redmond, WA, even if you’re anxious about seeing a dentist. We offer both nitrous sedation and oral conscious sedation so you can choose the treatment that’s right for you. Contact us now to learn more and see if you’re a good candidate for sedation.
The Benefits Of Sedation Dentistry
- Sedation helps you relax in the dentist’s chair, even if you have dental anxiety or are nervous about your appointment.
- With sedation, it’s easier to sit through long appointments and stay comfortable while getting treatment.
- Along with numbing, sedation ensures you won’t experience any pain or discomfort.
- Beyond keeping you comfortable, sedation can help mitigate common problems like fear of numbing needles and even an excessively-strong gag reflex.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses a variety of different methods of sedation to keep patients comfortable throughout their appointment. At our office, we offer nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation.
Regardless of the method used, the purpose of sedation dentistry is the same. It’s intended to help mitigate pain and discomfort and to reduce anxiety in patients so they can get the dental care they need.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
This method of sedation uses a mask that fits over your nose to send a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide to your lungs. Nitrous oxide sedation will make you feel a bit disconnected from what’s happening around you, and you won’t feel any pain or discomfort. However, you will remain completely aware and responsive.
This method of sedation has minimal side effects and wears off after about 5 minutes, so you can drive yourself home and resume your day-to-day routine after treatment with nitrous oxide sedation. This makes it very convenient.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is a deeper method of sedation. You’ll take a few sedative pills prescribed by Dr. Bickel about an hour before your procedure begins. They will make you feel very sleepy and groggy, and it’s very common for patients to fall asleep during their procedure. In addition, you may forget most of what happens during your appointment.
This option is ideal for patients who have more severe anxiety about dentistry since you can sleep through your appointment. However, its side effects last longer, and you cannot drive for at least 4-6 hours. You will need to take it easy for the rest of the day, as well as bring an adult with you to take you home and take care of you as you recover from the sedation. Keep this in mind when scheduling your consultation.
Am I A Good Candidate For Sedation Dentistry?
As long as you are healthy, do not have a history of drug use, and do not have any negative reactions to common sedative medications, you are likely a good candidate for sedation. Dr. Bickel will discuss your health with you before your appointment, and ensure that sedation is safe for you. To learn more, schedule a consultation with us.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Sedation dentistry is completely safe when administered by a trained professional like Dr. Daniel Bickel. Dr. Bickel has years of experience in dental sedation and oral surgery and will make sure you stay completely safe during your appointment.
Complications are very rare for both oral conscious sedation and nitrous oxide sedation, and to make sure you’re a good candidate, Dr. Bickel will ask you about your health history and medications and supplements you may be taking.
Throughout your procedure, your vital signs will also be closely monitored to make sure that your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other such vitals are within normal limits.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Sedation?
This depends on the type of sedation that you choose.
Nitrous oxide sedation wears off much faster than other types of sedation, so it’s a good option if you need to go back to work or your day-to-day routine right after treatment. After your dental procedure is complete, Dr. Bickel will adjust the flow of gas to send a stream of pure oxygen through your nose mask.
You’ll keep breathing in through this nose mask, and the oxygen will “flush” the remaining nitrous oxide out of your lungs and your bloodstream, which helps reduce side effects and purges the remaining gas from your system.
Oral conscious sedation takes a lot longer to wear off. You will continue to feel groggy after your treatment, and your ability to make decisions and operate heavy machinery, such as a car, will be impaired. Most people will start to feel normal after about 4-6 hours, but the lingering effects can last up to 24 hours in some patients.
For that reason, you can’t drive yourself home after you’re sedated, and we usually recommend you take at least one day off of work to recover, if possible. Make sure to plan accordingly if you want to be sedated with oral conscious sedation.
How Long Does It Take For Sedation To Set In?
If you choose nitrous oxide sedation, the effects of the gas will take effect as soon as you begin breathing in the gas. This is because the nitrous oxide will quickly be absorbed into the tiny blood vessels in your lungs, and transported throughout your body. You’ll start to feel less anxious, happier, and a bit disconnected from events that are happening around you.
If you choose oral conscious sedation, it will usually take 1-2 hours for the sedative to take effect, depending on how quickly you metabolize it. You’ll take your pills in our office, and then Dr. Bickel will begin the procedure once he has confirmed that the sedative has taken effect. You’ll feel groggy and tired once the pills have been metabolized into your bloodstream.