Sedation Dentistry – Lake Zurich, IL

Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?

At Grand Dental – Lake Zurich, our team is pleased to provide nitrous oxide sedation for children and adults. Because it causes few if any side effects and is much milder than other forms of sedation (i.e., oral conscious sedation and IV sedation), it is unlikely that you or a loved one will be unable to receive it for an upcoming procedure.

Should you struggle with mild dental anxiety, have a sensitive gag reflex, have difficulty getting numb with local anesthesia, or are preparing for several dental procedures, there is a good chance you’ll be eligible to receive nitrous oxide.

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?

The process of receiving nitrous oxide is quite simple. Once in the dentist’s chair, a nasal mask will be placed over your nose. The mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen will be turned on, and you will be instructed to inhale. After only a few minutes, you will begin to feel warm and sleepy.

While you will not be fully sedated, you might feel as if you are drifting off to sleep. However, you will be able to respond to any cues or directions from our dental team.

Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide

One of the most beneficial aspects of nitrous oxide is the fact that it has few if any side effects. Most patients, the moment the gas is turned off and the nasal mask is removed, are free to resume normal activity after breathing in pure oxygen for a few minutes. You will find that you can return home or go back to work immediately following your appointment.

What is Oral Conscious Sedation?

As a prescribed pill medication, oral conscious sedation is most effective in those who have moderate dental anxiety. Its easy-to-take solution works quickly once ingested, as patients who are preparing to undergo a dental procedure will begin to feel comfortable and at ease the moment they arrive in the dentist’s chair.

How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?

A member of our Grand Dental – Lake Zurich team will prescribe the medication before a person’s appointment and instruct them to take it one hour before their arrival. This will give the medication time to enter into the individual’s system and begin to take effect.

Having someone drive the individual to and from their appointment ensures optimal safety. Once in the chair, the patient will begin to feel warm, relaxed, and a bit groggy. They may even feel as if they are falling asleep. However, patients who receive oral conscious sedation are never fully sedated but instead can be easily aroused should our dentist or team members need to provide instruction.

Once the procedure is complete, the patient will be allowed to return home with the help of a family member or friend. The medicine will wear off over time, but the individual will be instructed to rest at home for the duration of the day.

Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?

Oral conscious sedation patients are often those who:

• Suffer from mild or moderate dental anxiety
• Have sensitive or strong gag reflexes
• Are preparing to undergo multiple dental procedures
• Are unable to maintain appointments due to fear
• Struggle to keep their mouth open for prolonged periods
• Have difficulty sitting for extended periods
• Have past dental trauma

A thorough evaluation must first be completed before moving forward with any kind of sedation, as the individual must be in good general overall health. It is important that our dentists know the types of medications a person is taking to ensure that it does not negatively interact with sedation.

What does it feel like to be sedated at the dentist?

The answer to this is ultimately based on the type of sedation you receive. With nitrous oxide, it is known as laughing gas, so you may find certain aspects of your visit funnier than they actually are. You might also experience a slight tingling sensation in your arms and legs and become fully relaxed and euphoric.

With oral conscious sedation, you can expect to reach a deeper level of relaxation and find it difficult to stay awake. Although you will not be fully sedated, you may doze off during your procedure. You might even feel heavy.

If IV sedation is what you are preparing to receive, you’ll feel many of the same effects as oral conscious sedation, but they will be a bit stronger so that you remain completely at ease during your visit.

Is sedation dentistry worth it?

This is dependent on how severe your dental anxiety is. If you find it difficult to fathom visiting the dentist without some sort of sedative, then yes, it is worth the investment. Not only will it help you to remain calm during your visit, but you’ll also be able to get the dental care you need without experiencing the anxiety you previously felt.

If the cost is what you’re most concerned about, it’s important to remember that neglecting your oral health will only lead to worsening symptoms and costlier problems, so investing in sedation dentistry while the issue can be easily managed is far more cost-effective in the long run.

Does dental sedation make you tell secrets?

Many patients worry that while under sedation, they’ll begin to divulge their deepest, darkest secrets. You’ll be pleased to know that neither nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation contain anything that might be deemed a “truth serum.” However, if you do say anything that you might not otherwise say, you can trust that your team at Grand Dental – Lake Zurich will remain complete professionals, keeping anything you say well within the walls of the treatment room.

Is sedation dentistry safe while pregnant?

It is believed that the medication used in dental sedation can be transferred to the fetus through the placenta. This is why many dentists recommend that you avoid any kind of dental procedure or sedation during your first or third trimester. Safest during the second trimester, it is best if the mother waits, if possible, until after the birth of her child.

Premature labor and fetal development are concerns that many professionals have when it comes to administering sedation during a woman’s pregnancy. If treatment cannot be avoided, the rule of thumb is to always try to go with the most minimal option, which is usually nitrous oxide.